Planning Commission Establishes Residential Parking District

The Cookeville Planning Commission voted unanimously Monday to establish a residential parking district ordinance.

The ordinance would give any community members the opportunity to petition the planning commission to create such a district. Parking problems along Cookeville’s Eighth Street led to the development of the protocol which is not specific to that area. Tennessee Tech students and faculty have increasingly used the area over the last two years.

“Although East Eighth Street has been the catalyst for the proposed amendment and used as an example for consideration, specifics associated with East Eighth Street will be considered after a traffic study is conducted,” Planning Director Jon Ward said.

A petition signed by two-thirds of residents in the neighborhood would be required to request a traffic study.

The planning department would conduct a traffic study once a petition is received. The department would suggest a residential parking district to the planning commission and ultimately the Cookeville City Council. Public hearings would be held before the specific district would be approved or denied.

Ward said several revisions were made to the ordinance including a change to guest parking which would be addressed with each individual district’s ordinance setup. The planning director was also removed from the enforcement of the districts. Only police would be involved in revoking an ordinance. The city manager would hear all appeals.

While Eighth Street has been most often mentioned with the ordinance, Ward said the planning commission needed to understand this ordinance could impact the entire community. Two residents spoke at Monday night’s meeting against making changes along Eighth Street. Resident Becky Magura said the proposed regulations would tell Tech students they are not welcome here, a feeling she did not want to share.

Ward said 13 signatures have been submitted by Eighth Street neighbors, or about 68 percent of the residences.

The proposed ordinance goes on to Cookeville City Council.