Cookeville Planners Approve Plan Of Services For Annexation

The Cookeville Planning Commission has approved a plan of services for annexation and recommended that the city council review the plan for approval.

Residents have submitted a petition requesting annexation for a 249-acre property at the southwest intersection of Interstate 40 and State Highway 111, just off of Salem Road.

Planning Director James Mills said the process of annexing land has changed over the years.

“Due to changes in the state annexation law we can no longer annex by ordinance,” Mills said. “The only way we can annex this entire area is by referendum. Referendum is done by holding a special election and only those registered voters living in the area can vote in the election.”

Mills said if the city approves annexation by referendum, the city would have to pay for the special election. Mills also said a number of industrial prospects have expressed interest in the property.