Cookeville Planning Commission Votes To Rezone Property On East 6th Street

The Cookeville Planning Commission voted to approve the rezoning of a property on East 6th Street and a portion of one on North Washington Avenue to create an additional, zone-conforming lot.

The action would divide up current lots and extend one zone, creating potential space for new single-family housing. Planning Department Director Jon Ward said it seemed like a logical extension to add an additional zoning lot.

“The purpose is to create a new building lot,” Ward said. “That’s why that this application was submitted. And when the planning department analyzed this, we saw that the lot beside it was already non-conforming. This is in-field development, this is a collector’s street East 6th is.”

The lot is non-conforming because it doesn’t fit the minimum lot size requirements in its current RS-15 zoning code.

Ward said this goes along with Cookeville’s Future Land Use Plan, which he said is best suited for lower-density residential housing.

Two residents voiced their opposition to the plan, citing it would ruin their neighborhood’s charm. Resident Linda Sims lives at the adjoining property.

“My house is 70 years old,” Sims said. “It’s an old neighborhood, it’s a charming neighborhood. My concern is if we get a small house here, and it happens to be a tall, skinny or something that doesn’t fit, into the neighborhood, we have ruined the charm.”

Resident Kate Scurlock and voiced similar beliefs.

“We do live in a beautiful neighborhood,” Scurlock said. “Our neighborhood is kind of in the middle of several historic districts, and all the homes there are not new. Mine’s about 60 years old and my concern is the same as Linda’s. Every time a new house comes up, it completely refigures the old beauty of these neighborhoods.”

Chairman Jim Staphne told the concerned residents that what was approved by the committee tonight was just a recommendation to Cookeville City Council, and that they were welcome to voice their concerns when the item is on the council’s agenda.

Though the owners of the two properties were not present at the meeting, Ward said they had been given notice of the potential rezoning, and had given permission to contractor Donnie Suits of Capital Communities to submit the rezoning request.

The committee voted to approve a six-month extension of the preliminary plat of the Kacie Avenue Division, with six lots at 621 West Stevens Street. They also voted to approve the resubmission of the preliminary plat of Concord subdivision. It is home to 18 lots on Jere Whitson Road. The contracting group missed the extension application deadline, and consequently had to resubmit its preliminary plat.