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Article by David Seal, Tennessee Conservative News –
Two civic groups in East Knox County, Tennessee, have expressed concerns over high density development projects and their potential impact on the quality of wells in the area.
A proposed rezoning that could place 68 homes on a seven-acre tract in the Strawberry Plains Pike area is under consideration by Knox County Commission on Monday September 21, 2026.
The grassroots organization Save East Knox County has reported that 22 privately owned wells may be in jeopardy if the rezoning is approved.
The group issued the following warning on its social media page this week.
“Putting in sewer and water lines for a subdivision that dense means blasting and deep excavation — right next to the only water source these families have. Once a well is gone, it’s gone. Here’s what makes this worse: Metropolitan Planning Commission (MPC) approved this development without a single word about the wells — they never made it into the case report. The staff report also left out two mapped sinkholes on the property, which they were obligated to disclose. Our commissioners are being asked to vote on an incomplete picture. That’s not a fair process, and it’s not a safe one.”
Another grassroots organization that represents the area is Volunteer Patriots.
Volunteer Patriots Co-founder Christian Breeden commented as follows for this news report on the high-density development in the Strawberry Plains area as follows.
“As Knox County and the surrounding areas continue to grow, the need for additional housing for new residents and the expansion of infrastructure to meet those needs also grows. At the same time, it’s important to remember those who have called Knoxville home for years, decades or, in the case of family generations, centuries. A lot of communities continue to rely on water wells for reliable supplies, including the residents of East Knox County. Residential development and the infrastructure expansion that comes with it threatens these water supplies. Once contaminated, these wells become unusable, denying residents clean water sources. Knox County would do well to remember that taking care of the residents that currently call this place “home” is of paramount importance; these are the people who elected you to office and they are the ones newcomers will listen to the next time your name is on the ballot.” – said Christian Breeden, Co-founder, Volunteer Patriots
For any citizen that wishes to contact commissioners about the rezoning, a link to the Knox County Commission Web Page is provided here.
About the Author: David Seal is a retired Jefferson County educator, recognized artist, local businessman, 917 Society Volunteer, and past Chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party. He has also served Jefferson County as a County Commissioner and is a citizen lobbyist for the people on issues such as eminent domain, property rights, education, and broadband accessibility on the state level. David is also a 2024 winner of The Tennessee Conservative Flame Award & has received an accolade from the Institute For Justice for successfully lobbing the TN legislature to protect property rights. David can be reached at david@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
