Boyer memo: Go ahead with Pine Ridge project

By Bob Fowler, Anderson County editor

Knoxville News Sentinel, October 21, 2001

The controversial Pine Ridge development project in Oak Ridge should be allowed to continue, Oak Ridge City Manager Paul Boyer recommends in a nine-page memorandum to City Council.

"Such development will favorably impact the city's tax base, its employment base, and improve the appearance of the site from its current state," the memo says.

Boyer was asked by City Council at its Oct. 8 meeting to compile a history of the project, being developed by Nat Revis, owner of Scientific and Technical Resources in Union Valley Industrial Park.

Revis has clear-cut the twin ridges at the main entrance to Oak Ridge from Knoxville and is chopping off the ridge tops and filling in the narrow valley between them. He intends to build several high-tech warehouses and some office buildings atop the leveled ridges.

The highly visible barren earth that has resulted has spurred a public outcry spearheaded by environmental consultant Bill Schramm, who mounted a petition drive asking the city either to buy back the land for a public park or seize the land by condemnation.

Along with Boyer's recommendation, council has received a legal opinion from City Attorney Kenneth Krushenski that contends the city followed standard procedures when it conveyed the land to its Industrial Development Board for sale to Revis.

Krushenski also opines that any attempt by the city to reacquire the land by court action would fail.

"It would be impossible for the city to justify a public purpose taking of private property only two years after the same property was conveyed as surplus property to be used for industrial purposes," Krushenski's opinion states.

In a written response, Schramm raps both Boyer's memo and Krushenski's opinion.

Both the memo and opinion, Schramm contends, are designed to support the city's actions so far, and Krushenski's opinion "is one interpretation of the relevant law."

Boyer's history of the development "fails to acknowledge problems and deficiencies with the developer's actions or with the city's handling of the land transfer," Schramm says.

Schramm also says Boyer's statement that more than 30 public meeting on the Pine Ridge project is misleading. In addition, Schramm contends that Revis has not complied with all deed restrictions, city policies and state permit requirements.

"The use of the site speaks volumes about the attention paid to quality of life issues in the city," Schramm said.

Council voted 4-3 at its Oct. 8 meeting to ask Boyer to research the history of Pine Ridge. Council's motion dropped Councilman Leonard Abbatiello's request that various options for the project be listed and a staff recommendation be made.

Boyer's memo, however, addresses all three of Abbatiello's requests.

It's uncertain if Pine Ridge will be discussed during council's next meeting at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 22.

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

Copyright 2001, KnoxNews. All Rights Reserved.