Cookeville Will Consider Zoning Amendment For Planned Residential Development

Cookeville City Council will consider changes to the zoning code to encourage more use of Planned Residential Developments (PRD).

A PRD District is one that requires developers to submit final site plans prior to the Planning Commission’s or City Council’s approval and requires that developers stick to such plans. Planning Director Jon Ward said with a projected influx of high-density development, he wants to make PRDs more appealing to developers by amending some restrictions.

“It’s always about some negotiation and balance trying to keep existing residents in existing neighborhoods happy and still trying to let property develop too,” Ward said. “And I think densities are important because I think we have to offer options in housing.”

The proposed amendments include reducing the setback requirements and omitting requirements for structure elevations. They are a result of recent discussions with the Planning Commission regarding moderate-density single-family development.

City Manager James Mills said when development of this nature comes up next to existing homes, it will always be controversial. A PRD helps to protect those homes by creating a set plan so neighbors know what is happening and have a guarantee it won’t change.

“The number one thing identified in the 2030 plan, and I guarantee it will be identified in your next plan, is to protect single-family homes,” Mills said. “That’s the largest investment a typical person has in their entire lifetime. And that’s one of the main goals of zoning is to protect single-family. And these are supposed to be a single-family product, it will be in this. But that’s all that you’re going to hear. Anytime you rezone to higher density next to a lower density, you’re going to hear concerns from the property owner. ”

The revisions were recommended unanimously by the Planning Commission. City Council will host a public hearing on the changes Thursday night.