Progress Picking Up For Cookeville Referendum Petition

A petition for a referendum to overturn a Cookeville City Council rezoning continues to be circulated.

The referendum would challenge the council’s vote to rezone property on West 9th Street and North Franklin Avenue to make way for a 160 unit apartment complex.

Mt. Vernon resident Tom Robertson said the circulation has experienced some ups and down, but progress has picked up recently.

“In the last 10 days or so there seems to have been a pretty big increase. A lady yesterday dropped off nine sheets, I had somebody pick up seven more sheets last night, and somebody this morning picked up 20 sheets to get signatures,” Robertson said. “There’s kind of been a revived effort here at the finish line and that’s been very encouraging.”

The petition needs 2,318 signatures by May 23rd in order for the referendum to be placed on the November election ballot. Robertson could not provide a total number of signatures thus far.

The group of Mt. Vernon residents have used advertising, public meetings, and social media as a way to circulate the petition. Robertson said a community event may be held the weekend of May 19th.

To Robertson, the issue involving the rezoning has never really been about the rezoning and building a set of apartments.

“To me, it’s been an issue about the council basically ignoring the will of the people,” Robertson said. “We had tremendous opposition at the beginning and the people of Mt. Vernon and even those outside of Mt. Vernon voiced their opinions.”

Robertson said the city doesn’t need another apartment complex and insists there’s a need for housing shortage within the city.

Clearing has already begun on the land.