CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Clarksville City Council this week approved rezoning a piece of land off of Pea Ridge Road that will be used for housing, local businesses and a public park.
Burt Singletary of Singletary Investments brought the application to the council for 23 acres between Pea Ridge Road and the back of the Trenton Road Publix, requesting that it be rezoned for a Planned Unit Development, or PUD.
The development will consist of 38 townhomes, 334 apartment units and over 25,000 square feet of office and retail space, according to public documents. Meanwhile, 6 acres of open space will be used for a public park for community members in the area. The development will have 948 parking spots.
Singletary Investments plans to add sidewalks along Pea Ridge Road and Trenton Road to allow community members access to Publix. For safety concerns, the sidewalks will be widened to 8 feet. Pea Ridge will be widened with a turning lane at the entrance to the development.
Also, a traffic signal will be added where Pea Ridge meets the 101st Airborne Division Parkway to the north of the development.
Several changes to get approval
At Thursday’s council meeting, some residents spoke against the rezoning. Bradford Davis told the council it seemed as though they had already made up their minds. Davis said residents of the area are concerned about traffic and safety.
Councilperson Karen Reynolds responded that she was sorry about Davis’ frustration.
“I would just like to tell you that this PUD has taken six to eight months, and it has gone back and forth. So, for many of us, we’ve seen it and we’ve read it. I personally sat down with Mr. Singletary several months ago, because I was concerned about it and asked him to make several changes. And he made those changes,” Reynolds said.
“I do respect your concerns for the traffic. The one reason I respect a PUD, unlike the other types of zonings, when you approve a PUD … he can’t add more apartments, he can’t take a sidewalk away … those are not negotiable any longer once we vote. Because, if he has to change it, then it has to come back to us.”
Councilperson Ambar Marquis said that before development can even begin, the traffic light at 101st Parkway is required to be put in.
Another area resident, Glen Lopez, spoke on infrastructure concerns and the possibility of an increase in crime as more people move into the area.
The ordinance passed 8-4. Voting yes were Reynolds, Marquis, Deanna McLaughlin, Wanda Smith, Travis Holleman, Stacey Streetman, Keri Lovato and Mayor Joe Pitts. Voting no were Brian Zacharias, DaJuan Little, Wallace Redd and Joe Shakeenab. Wanda Allen was absent.
This was the first vote on the matter, and the council will vote again next month.
Christian Brown contributed to this report.