CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – A proposed 326-unit apartment complex at Rossview Road and Basham Lane is back up for consideration after it was deferred last month. The topic received comments from several council members as discussion continued at the City Council meeting on Thursday.
Concerns were raised previously about increased traffic and congestion on Rossview. After developers took a few weeks to discuss the idea with city leaders and the public, some are still not sold on it.
Shakeenab: ‘Not a good thing for Clarksville’
The land proposed for The Highlands Apartments is about 27.47 acres at Rossview and Basham, just off Warfield Boulevard. The owner of the property, George R. Fleming, is requesting to have the area rezoned into a Planned Unit Development from R-1.
The proposed apartment complex would feature three-story walk-up apartments, totaling about 326 units. In addition, the complex would have several amenities, such as a pool, walking trails, green space, and a volleyball court, as well as a pickleball court.
The Regional Planning Commission (RPC) has recommended approval. However, some members of the public and the City Council are still against the project.
Councilperson Joe Shakeenab, who represents the area in which the project is proposed, again spoke in opposition to the development. He noted that the entry road improvements from Warfield Boulevard to Rossview would be very close to the Shell substation, which cannot be altered as the developer does not own that property. Additionally, he stated once more that he would prefer Basham and Roanoke Road be connected as part of the project.
A widening of Rossview near the project is proposed, but not the alignment with Roanoke.
“I just invite all of you out to look at this particular area,” he said, noting that many who live in the ward were present at the meeting and will be again at the public hearing next week. “Come out there and look at the site and know that this is just not a good thing for Clarksville. It’s not a good thing for Ward 11. It’s not a good thing for Rossview Road. What we need to do in that area is fix Rossview Road.”
Addressing concerns
Councilperson Wanda Smith expressed interest in knowing how the developer was responding to comments from the public and what they were doing to address those concerns.
“We don’t want to build just to be building,” Smith said. “We don’t want to put too many apartments in so many places where the roads are not wide enough. We want to make some better decisions when we’re doing these things, and we need to look at that area. Not just put it (the apartments) up because he can. Let’s make sure the roads are together (and) sidewalks are put there, and let’s listen to what the constituents are saying.”
RPC Deputy Director John Spainhoward noted that the developer recently hosted a public meeting to address concerns and answer questions about the project. Shakeenab explained that he was at that meeting and that it was not enough to justify moving forward.
“There was a meeting. I attended that meeting, and from the constituents’ point of view, that meeting was a disaster. They (the constituents) were against it wholeheartedly. Everyone there was against it, but it seems like their concerns were falling on deaf ears during that entire meeting.”
The measure will be voted on by the City Council at the next meeting on Nov. 3, at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, 1 Public Square.