Critics say too many questions surround Pine Ridge development

Knoxville News Sentinel, October 7, 2001

By Bob Fowler, Anderson County editor

Several council members may be satisfied with Nat Revis' plans for his Pine Ridge development, but numerous questions still need to be answered, say a husband-and-wife team who are spearheading opposition to the project.

"There needs to be full disclosure to the public," said Stella Schramm.

Schramm's husband, environmental consultant Bill Schramm, has mounted a petition drive calling for the city to either buy back the land or condemn the property and take it.

Schramm plans to submit those petitions, containing the names of more than 1,100 residents, to City Council during its meeting Monday, Oct. 8. He's also prepared a lengthy list of questions about the project.

"Council is working with a poverty of information," said Stella Schramm. "There are many issues that haven't been addressed, including the issue of blasting without notification of citizens."

Blasting at the site began more than a week ago. "While he (Revis) is not required to do that (notify citizens of blasting), the decent thing to do is tell citizens you're going to be doing that," Schramm said. "We need an approach and attitude by council and city staff of being proactively engaged and disclosing to citizens what they need to know."

Other issues, she said, are:

* There is no approved site plan for Pine Ridge, and the plan that was submitted was rejected by the city engineer;

* Plans for the Pine Ridge site have changed "dramatically and repeatedly."

* The current site plan calls for 60 feet of "vertical fill" that the Schramms contend requires a particular type of crushed stone placed in compressed, 6-inch layers.

"It is not clear how this would be economically viable or if this is how the developer intends to fill the site," the Schramms said in a draft of "talking points" intended to be presented to council Monday.

* There are no air quality control measures in place for dust control during blasting.

* Site information given to council last Monday during a tour "was a misrepresentation and substantially different from the site drawings" submitted earlier to city staff.

Illinois Avenue, the main route from Knoxville into Oak Ridge, winds along the base of Pine Ridge, which Revis has clear-cut. He is now chopping off the two ridge tops there, leveling what's left and filling in the narrow valley in between.

The project has stirred a public outcry from residents who say Pine Ridge has become a high-profile eyesore.

During their tour Monday, council members were told one area of the Pine Ridge site is being prepared for a 170,000-square-foot building for an existing Oak Ridge business that is considering new locations in both Oak Ridge and Knoxville.

Revis said during the tour, "I'm not willing to sell the property back, and I will fight to my last breath to protect it."

Mayor David Bradshaw said he was "encouraged" by what he saw during Monday's tour.

"We need to work with him (Revis) to make it the best possible development," Bradshaw said.

The mayor has dismissed the notion of the city's buying the property back and converting it into a city park.

"The city is not in a position to purchase property that's been heavily invested in," he said.

Revis told council members he's already poured $1.2 million into the Pine Ridge project, and total costs to prepare the land for document warehouses and office buildings is expected to be $3.5 million.

Bob Fowler may be reached at 1-865-481-3625 or bfowler@knoxnews.infi.net.

Copyright 2001, KnoxNews. All Rights Reserved.