News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Cookeville Planning Commission approved a new zoning code Monday night in hopes of finding a middle ground density for single-family development homes.
Community Development Director Jon Ward said the new zoning is intended to serve as a moderate single-family residential environment where public wastewater services are available. He said the Planning Department developed this zoning code after recent conversations with the commission about rezoning requests for higher density development.
“We’re trying to address some of the lot geometries,” Ward said. “Less linear feet of frontage for public street required to build a home. Every foot costs money, the utility extensions cost money.”
Ward said the hope is that this zoning will address concerns with higher-density development in R.S-5, while allowing for increased development opportunities in the R.S.-10.
The R.S-7.5 zoning requirements run between the higher-density R.S.-5 zoning and the lower-density R.S.-10 zoning. For example, the minimum lot requirements in RS-5 are 5,000 square feet. In the new RS-7.5, 7,500 square feet is the minimum lot requirement.
“Everybody is trying to do more on less,” Ward said. “It’s cost-related. So this is just providing another option in between those two zones to allow for more than one allows, and less than another.”
The new zoning code will go before the Cookeville City Council for consideration for approval.
