KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Homeowners in the Westland Oaks subdivision are raising concerns about a new housing development set to bring 68 multi-family units to the area, citing traffic congestion and infrastructure challenges as primary issues.
Several residents living near the proposed development, located just off Westland Drive near Pellissippi Parkway, voiced their concerns at a community meeting on Monday night. Among the primary complaints was the already strained traffic situation.
Becky Kowen, a local homeowner, shared her frustrations, particularly regarding the difficulty of navigating Westland Drive during peak hours. “The traffic is horrible, especially in the mornings when I’m trying to get out onto Westland to take my kids to school,” she said. “It’s just not manageable with more cars coming into the area.”
The Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission had approved the plans for the new housing development in May. However, many residents argue that the current infrastructure is not equipped to handle the influx of additional traffic. Public records show that the most recent traffic study for the area was conducted in 2019, well before the Westland Oaks subdivision was fully developed.
“I don’t think a 2019 or even a 2020 study would be relevant now,” Kowen continued. “There are far more people, far more cars now. The traffic situation has already gotten worse.”
Peter Davis, Vice President of Elmington Residential, the developer behind the project, responded to the concerns. He explained that as part of the agreement, the county requires the developer to widen Westland Drive and add a turn lane to better accommodate the increased traffic. “The county has designed the improvements, and they will handle the construction, but Elmington Residential will be covering the costs,” said Davis.
Davis emphasized that the developer is committed to minimizing the project’s impact on the community. “We have been and will continue to work diligently with Knox County officials to ensure our project has a minimal impact on its neighbors, schools, traffic, and the environment,” he added. “We are committed to being a good community steward and partner moving forward.”
Despite the proposed improvements, some residents, including Serese Marotta, remain skeptical. Marotta, a resident of Westland Oaks, expressed doubt that a single turn lane would be enough to resolve the traffic concerns. “One turn lane into Westland Oaks subdivision is not going to mitigate the burden that we’re already seeing in traffic,” she said.
Further complicating matters are concerns about emergency response times. Neighbors argue that the narrow roads in the area could prevent emergency vehicles from quickly accessing homes during critical situations.
“The county needs to stop for a minute, figure out the infrastructure first, then figure out the homes going in on top of that,” said Joseph Marotta, also a resident of Westland Oaks.
As tensions rise, some residents have taken legal action to voice their opposition. Several neighbors have hired legal counsel to represent their interests, exploring potential options for blocking or delaying the development.
With the project already approved, a Knox County Commissioner noted that legal action may be the only remaining recourse for residents. The developer, for its part, insists that it is doing everything it can to address the concerns raised by the community while moving forward with the development.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the balance between community interests, infrastructure capacity, and development goals will be resolved in the Westland Oaks neighborhood.
