Planning Commission Approves Fourth Historic District

The Cookeville Planning Commission approved the rezoning of properties along East 8th Street to become the city’s fourth historic district.

Chairman James Stafne, along with the rest of the commission, voted in favor of the rezoning.

“Having these overlays with the historic zoning, as far as I’m concerned, is one of the best things that we’ve done in a long time,” Stafne said. “It preserves and protects. And everybody, in turn, wants to preserve and protect. I think that does that and I think it does it in an extremely well-done way.”

According to Planning Director James Mills, the 19 properties that make up the new district feature houses and structures built between the 1920s and 1940s. 17 of the 19 property owners signed a petition to create the new district.

The new district would be the fourth in the city along with the North Dixie Avenue, Broad and Freeze Street, and Cream City Historic Districts.

Properties must have structures at least 50 years or older to be eligible for a historic zone overlay.