Pine Ridge development gets nod from Oak Ridge City Council

By Bob Fowler, Anderson County editor

Knoxville News Sentinel, October 28, 2001

After hours of discussion over several meetings, Oak Ridge City Council members have given the go-ahead to the controversial Pine Ridge project.

Council voted 6-0 to allow the high-profile project to continue "on the normal site development process." Member Leonard Abbatiello abstained.

Abbatiello earlier during the Oct. 22 session made a last-ditch effort to have the city manager delay the project until the city and developer Nat Revis agreed on a site plan for Pine Ridge. But his motion failed to win a second and died on the floor.

Revis' project to strip the wooded Pine Ridge, chop off the two ridge tops and fill in the narrow valley between them ignited a firestorm of controversy.

Residents complained that the leveling of the ridge tops at the city's main entranceway for planned warehouses and office buildings created an immense eyesore visible for miles.

Gripes were also voiced about the way the land was sold. Critics complained that the city's move to convey the two tracts totaling 100 acres to the Industrial Development Board for sale to Revis thwarted other bids on Pine Ridge and avoided public scrutiny.

A petition drive asking the city to either buy back the land or condemn it by exercising its power of imminent domain and convert the property into a public park was launched by environmental consultant Bill Schramm. More than 1,400 Oak Ridge residents signed the petition.

"I know of no regulatory process to stop the development," City Manager Paul Boyer told council Monday. He said city inspectors have made virtually daily visits to the project and "haven't been able to find a violation of regulations."

"There's nothing the city can do legally," said City Attorney Ken Krushenski. "There's no legal basis for the city to interfere with the development," he said. "Court action, in my opinion, would be inadvisable."

Councilman Ray Evans said there were "tons of misconceptions" about the process surrounding the city's sale of Pine Ridge to Revis. He described that process as normal.

Said Evans: "We can all sit here and cry about what it (Pine Ridge) looks like, but I don't think the developer has done anything wrong."

Councilman Willie Golden said the city "needs to be careful about the message we're sending other developers. If we want Oak Ridge to grow, we don't need to come back and find error in earlier decisions."

Boyer agreed. "We need to be careful what we say about businesses in this community," he said. No building permit will be issued for Pine Ridge, Boyer said, until the city approves the site plan for the tract.

Schramm said Revis faces "a substantial engineering challenge," particularly when it comes to the fill that will be needed. Unless done properly, that fill could cause settling problems leading to cracked foundations and abandoned buildings, he said.

"In the long run, this is going to cost the city in its ability to pursue economic development," Schramm predicted.

Michael Huston, a member of the audience, described the conveyance of the property to Revis as "a deal done behind closed doors.

Said Huston: "The city is dependent on a government that's composed of fools and crooks, and sometimes it's difficult to tell which is which."

Evans called Huston's comments "grossly offensive."

"To say we have anything in our hearts except the best interest of the community is just wrong," said Evans. "It's absolutely wrong."

Revis has indicated it should take five months or so to complete the grading work atop Pine Ridge. He said he's seeking to build a large new building complex for an existing Oak Ridge company there, along with warehouses for housing government and business records.

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

Copyright 2001, KnoxNews. All Rights Reserved.