Lee Erwin reporting
lerwin@clarksvillenow.com
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Meeting Thursday in their regular session, the Clarksville City Council approved buying property on Riverside Drive along the Cumberland River for use as a possible extension to the Riverwalk and also to help the city grow by annexing land in the Sango area.
The property on the river is at 808 Riverside Drive and most recently housed the Lighthouse Café and Christian Concert Hall and is easily recognizable by a tall smokestack beside the building. The site has been home to a number of businesses over the years and was originally used as a water facility for the city.
It was the first reading of the ordinance to purchase the property for $200,000 from G & S Corporation. The total cost is expected to be closer to $225,000 which will include the purchase price, appraisal, survey, environmental study and closing costs. The land would be used as part of the phase two of Clarksville’s River District Master Plan.
Councilman Bill Summers led the effort to buy the property and talked about one reason why the city should have it. “One thing is we’ve got to connect the Riverwalk from one end to the other and this will add a considerable piece. Right now the Riverwalk ends behind Bill Roberts and we’re talking a quarter or a third of a mile we could add with that property alone,” said Summers.
Also Thursday the council approved annexing 106 acres between the Red River, Passenger Creek and the Deertrail Subdivision in the Sango area. Much of the land will be used for a proposed new city park with the rest going to private development. The council approved $340,000 for the purchase of the property last June.
Speaking of property, one zoning issue sparked some conversation between members of the council. It was a proposed zone change from R-1 Single Family Residential District to OP Office Professional District. Dr. Sam Gentry, an Orthodontist is proposing the zone change to place his business on the site now known as the Blue Hole near the corner of Dunbar Cave Road and Warfield Boulevard.
There were two local residents who spoke out against the rezoning because they feel the area should remain residential and not become commercial with a business locating there. They were not concerned with an orthodontist office but that the zoning change could mean another type of business could go at the location in the future. Some council members had the same concerns but the rezoning passed 8-3 on the first reading.
With the recent resignation of Ward 1 City Councilman Nick Steward Mayor Kim McMillan and the council have worked to fill the vacancy left by his leaving and proposed amending the official City Code on filling Steward’s and future vacancies on the City Council.
Two residents of Ward 1 who have qualified for the post, Kip McNeill and John LecKrone addressed the council and answered questions from council members about being appointed to the City Council seat. Whoever takes the Ward 1 City Council title will fill the expired term of Steward and if they desire will have to run for the council post in the 2014 November City Election.
Mayor McMillan talked about how the council will fill the vacant seat. “I will be calling a special session on October 10th that is Thursday at 5:00 in the evening on October 10th. At that time is when we will make a decision and have a vote on whether or not we will choose either of these applicants to replace Mr. Steward in Ward 1, McMillan said.
Mayor McMillan also congratulated Clarksville Police Chief Al Ansley and the Clarksville Police Department for their recent reaccreditation. Along with recognizing the police officers the mayor also thanked all of the employees of the police department for their service to the community. Until Chief Ansley took over as chief the police department had not been accredited.