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Cookeville Planning Commission has approved an amendment to the Planned Commerical Development screening requirements at Old Kentucky Commons.
Planning Director Jon Ward said when the city council approved the PCD for Food City in 2019, they also set forth screening requirements that would protect the privacy of Bilbrey Park residents.
“The area in question contains some existing, mature trees and other vegetation,” Ward said. “Due to existing topographic challenges and environmental conditions in the area, the department had concerns with implementing the PCD screening in this area which would require the existing vegetation to be removed and could provide a lesser screening than the existing vegetation provides.”
Ward said that the Planning Department, Public Works Department, and City Urban Forester collaborated on the issue. They concurred that amendments to the original requirements would be appropriate.
Ward said that they also reached out to residents whose properties are affected. Of those who responded for input, a majority desired to keep the existing vegetation as it provides solid coverage.
“I understand that the lighting for 2 a.m. for us when it’s in the winter, we can read a book on our back table,” Resident Mark Troyer said. “We would prefer the trees that are there stay just because they’re so high. That’s 18 feet coming down into our property and our neighbors’ property too. It just seems at this point, don’t mess with it. It’s doing it’s job right now.”
