News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Cookeville Planning Commission declined the proposed rezoning of 1551 Bunker Hill Road during the meeting Monday.
Planning Director James Mills said the zoning did not fit the surrounding properties.
“Well, we were opposed to the RS-5 because we felt like it was a piece-meal zone. We did feel that RS-10 which was approved a few months ago on an adjacent track was appropriate,” Mills said. “But the planning commission felt like they would prefer that the owners resubmit with an RS-10.”
RS-5 zoning can for a minimum lot size of 5,000 square feet while RS-10 require a 10,000 square-feet minimum.
“The RS-10 versus the RS-15 would allow more homes. So they can get a higher density. But these are still single-family, detached homes,” Mills said. “It’s what the properties on the opposite side of Bunker Hill Road are zoned. So they would be getting no more rights than those property owners have. But the RS-5 was a higher density and we were opposed to that right now.”
Mills said the commission did not accept the rezoning due to the appeal and not necessarily the property value.
“I think there is a fallacy sometimes in terms of lot-size means more higher values or it’s going to be a deterrent to a property,” Mills said. “I think if you look at real estate that is proven the opposite to be true. One of the RS-5’s we have recently developed, the homes were $300,000. So that is not always true.”
Mills said the property owners have 30 days to appeal to the council. The owners can also resubmit the property as RS-10 zoning.
