CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Proposed rules for both protecting historic properties and encouraging growth downtown were approved this week, ready for City Council consideration on Thursday.
On Monday, the Clarksville-Montgomery County Historic Zoning Commission and Common Design Review Board each approved changes to the Historic Ordinance and Downtown Ordinance.
The ordinances govern:
- How historic properties are treated.
- What design standards apply in protected areas.
- How new development must visually and materially align with historic or downtown character.
Jeffrey Tyndall, director at CMC Regional Planning Commission, told the board these ordinances are important to the development of the downtown urban design and historic design overlay and they come after about a year and a half of work.
In September 2024, the Review Board asked the RPC to begin this process. The board got a state grant of $30,000 to assist and hired a consultant that walked them through it.
At that time, the RPC tabled an expansion plan of the H1 District to include Franklin Street, Strawberry Alley, Second Street, Madison Street through to the Methodist Church. Tyndall noted it was tabled so the Review Board can continue to work on the guidelines. “They were not comfortable approving that expansion without the guidelines,” Tyndall said.
This week, with the guidelines ready, the board approved expanding the district.
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Members of the Montgomery County Preservation Coalition attended the board meeting and said they were pleased with the outcome.
RPC approves changes to downtown guidelines
On Tuesday, following the Common Design Review Board’s approval of both ordinances, the RPC approved cutting back on regulations for downtown development while maintaining the historic district overlay. This means there would be lighter restrictions in the downtown, encouraging growth while also keeping firm protection over historic property.
During public comments, Joseph Van Deusen expressed gratitude for the expansion of the downtown area. Thanking the board for “loosening the belt” while protecting historic properties.
“It is the heart of Clarksville, and it is very important for future opportunity that we preserve what makes Clarksville unique versus any other place. Place-making is essential to urban development; it’s essential to economic development, it’s essential to a successful and thriving city that can have the tax revenue to pay for all the nice things that we would want,” Van Deusen said.
Changes to downtown regulations
Major changes from the current regulations include:
- Loosens the regulations on the Downtown Urban Design Overlay District while upholding the Historic District’s current standards.
- Clearer decision-making process, especially for “minor” improvements, which would be approved through the RPC staff instead of the board. Also, work considered routine maintenance would not require a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA)
- Defines contributing vs. non-contributing. Contributing properties “contribute” to the character and significance of a historic area, while non-contributing do not. This is important for when proposing a building for demolition, altering a building or starting a new development near a contributing building.
- Adds economic hardship appeals process, to include relevant financial information (property value assessment, amount paid for the property, ongoing expenses, revenue generated, etc.).
- Demolition by neglect is addressed.
After the vote, Tyndall expressed appreciation for its passage, and he described updating the guidelines and regulations as a “labor of love.”
Louisa Cooke, representing the Montgomery County Preservation Coalition, also thanked the board. “Clarksville is very much behind other places in the country on their preservation, and predicting our history and our culture we have here,” Cooke said.
The proposed regulation revisions will be discussed at the City Council Executive Session meeting at 4:30 p.m. Thursday in Council Chambers, 106 Public Square.
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