News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
After several months of planning, developers are ready to move forward with a new Dollar General on West Broad Street in Cookeville.
The Cookeville Planning Commission approved both preliminary and final plats at its Monday night meeting. Planning Director Jon Ward said that the location would be near West Jackson Street.
“It was on larger tract they had always planned to subdivide the property and they just had to go through the process and they had to do a public sewer extension to do that,” Ward said. “It’s been planned for several months now and I think they’re about ready to get started on the site. They’ve put up their erosion control, and they look like they’re about to get started.”
Ward said that the 1.4 acres of Dollar General will sit on some five acres of land. He said although it was only one lot, the commission needed to approve the preliminary plat because the development requires sewer extension.
Ward said that the Water Quality Control Department accepted a $25,000 letter of credit from developers to guarantee sewer installation. He said that the developers will most likely begin grading work soon.
In other business, the commission also approved the rezoning of some 85 acres of land on Tennessee Avenue near Academy Sports. Ward said that this will help market the property for economic development.
“The property has been split-zoned for some time,” Ward said. “There was a portion that was zoned commercial-industrial mixed-used and there was a remaining portion that was still zoned RS-20 for single-family development. The owners of the property submitted the request. They’ve been marketing it for many years, they’re just trying to be proactive so that the property is ready for if and when they do have a taker for development there. Everything was compliant with the plan and it’s appropriate for that type of development in that area.”
The commission also elected a new chair and vice-chair. Former chairman Jim Stafne nominated Jim Woodford to take over the role after serving 18 years in the role. Judy Jennings was nominated to reprise her role as vice-chair. Both were elected unanimously.
