The Knoxville Planning Commission voted last night to table two of Keith Vaughn’s projects while the local businessman awaits finalization on his purchase of land for a housing development and answers various questions about St. Mary’s Chapel renovations.
The proposed housing development is planned for a 20-acre parcel between South Division and South Market streets to build multi-family homes.
Vaughn tells WGIL parts of the property will need to be rezoned after the purchase is made.
“It does sit in the TIF district, so once that happens it would have to go back to the Planning Commission so they can approve of this type of structure, like what the facade will look like,” Vaughn says. “Then the biggest hurdle with that one is getting it rezoned.”
City Clerk Charlie Gruner says no action was taken on Vaughn’s St. Mary’s Chapel project because the Planning Commission was awaiting answers to what sort of structural impact work would have on the structure’s walls, what materials would be used for re-paving the parking lot and information on the floor plan for proposed bridal suites.
Vaughn says he anticipates the St. Mary’s Chapel project to take two to three years to complete.
“To me, that’s kind of the last big peace of history in Knoxville,” he says. “If we don’t do something to preserve it, than it’s going to disappear.”
He hopes to have the chapel restored enough to open in time for this year’s Scenic Drive.
