News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Cookeville Planning Commission unanimously voted against the rezoning of land along Buffalo Valley Road Monday night for multi-family housing.
The 10.2 acre plot would have been rezoned RM8 to allow for apartments or town homes. Planning Director Jon Ward said the proposed change did not meet the uses outlined in Cookeville’s land use plan. He said further sewer facilities did not have adequate capacity. Ward said the planning department also worried about traffic and congestion on Buffalo Valley Road.
Resident Patricia Hall, one of five residents to speak against the proposal, echoed that concern.
“This decision to rezone could destroy the peace and safety of our neighborhood and cause extreme congestion on a small two-lane road,” Hall said.
Resident David Turnage said he considers the landowner requesting the zoning change a friend. But he does not want to see changes to the area.
“I’ve got money invested in my home and at my age, I don’t want to see the value of anything I’ve got do down,” Turnage said.
The area was rezoned to RS10 from RS20 in 2018. Ward said the proposed sewer upgrades in the Tennessee Avenue area in connection to the Putnam County Fairgrounds could provide more capacity. Ward said upgrades are in the plans to Buffalo Valley Road that might allow for more traffic.
In other business, the Planning Commission granted a six-month extension to the West Towne Village subdivision. The 50-lot development would be built off Broadway Avenue. The commission granted preliminary approval in September, 2019.
The commission granted preliminary approval for Windsor Hill West, a 17-lot development off Highway 111. Three lots as part of the development will be used for commercial. Developers received permission from T-DOT to create an entrance from Highway 111, which has already been partially built.
