CLARKSVILLE, Tenn (CLARKSVILLENOW) – The Montgomery County Commission held an informal meeting on Monday, August 5 to discuss six zoning requests and to hear public comments.
The first request to be discussed, CZ-09-2019, concerns the rezoning of 74.27 acres of land off Hickory Point Road from agricultural land to E-1A/R-1. Holly Point LLC, who have built multiple subdivision in Clarksville, hopes to build a subdivision on the property containing an estimated 63 single family homes.
The property in question is roughly three miles from city limits (a four minute drive) and is currently being used by the owners as pasture.
The Clarksville-Montgomery County Regional Planning Commission recommended the application for approval, citing in their reasons the proposal’s consistency with the County’s adopted growth plan.
The primary concern voiced by the Commission was the effect a subdivision would have on traffic at the intersection of Hickory Point Road and Highway 12. Commissioners Harper, Knight, Smith and Beal expressed concern over congestion as well as the entrance to the prospective community, which, according to current plans, would be located approximately 250-300 feet north of Big McAdoo Creek.
Lawson Mabry, managing partner at Holly Point LLC, defended the proposal during public comments and answered commissioners’ questions. Mabry cited his company’s history in Clarksville, noting the quality of past projects.
Mabry went on to say that if the rezoning request were not approved, it is likely the landowners would eventually sell to other developers for the making of ‘flag lots.’ Such lots are considered lower quality than a subdivision, in part due to their long, individual driveways.
“Well of course one point I might make is that if this tract is not zoned, it’s going to have 35 houses on it without any review… with 35 gravel drives coming out onto the road,” said Mabry.
Three community members spoke in opposition of the request. They cited concerns of traffic increase and the importance of preserving agricultural land in the county.
According to recent studies, Highway 12 is currently well under its maximum traffic capacity.
CZ-09-2019 will be voted on at the Montgomery County Commission’s upcoming formal meeting alongside five other applications.
Holly Point LLC has said a more thorough traffic study will be conducted to ensure the safety of Highway 12 commuters.