CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – After a public hearing and further discussion on the proposed Highlands Apartments development, the City Council voted Thursday night to send the project back to the Regional Planning Commission (RPC).
The land up for rezoning is about 27.47 acres and sits 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, and it would feature around 326 apartments.
While concerns over increased traffic in that area have dominated the discussion thus far, the developer may have another shot at easing the minds of residents.
Back to RPC
Per the city code, two individuals had the opportunity to speak in favor of the ordinance at the public hearing, and two others had the opportunity to speak against it. Those speaking in favor were Larry Rocconi and Sydney Hedrick, who both represent the developer.
“I am here today to change what we ask for,” Rocconi said. “The developer, and I can announce this to the public, has entered into a contract with Dr. Woodard to buy his tract. We would have to change the plan to have access solely on Warfield, and the plan would be all access, all traffic, (on) Warfield, (and) Warfield only.”
“We can’t change the PUD as we sit. So I’m asking this council to remand or return this matter to the RPC. The application will be changed at the RPC to incorporate the access through the new piece of property, which would be Warfield and Warfield only.”
Rocconi said the developer thought the new plan would alleviate the traffic concerns in the area. When asked about the benefit of the project for the city by Councilperson Vondell Richmond, Rocconi said it would greatly increase the city’s tax base from collecting about $360 per year in property tax to an estimated $200,000 a year.
The project is an estimated $70 million investment in total, and Rocconi noted the developer likely wouldn’t wait around forever if the project was voted down and had to be brought back next year.
Hedrick echoed much of Rocconi’s comments and added that the additional piece of property sits on about 15.98 acres. He said the developer’s plan was to keep the project as a PUD, but he was unsure if additional units would be involved.
“In terms of units, I haven’t spoken to the developer, so I don’t think he has any intent to change his initial plan. We just had to shift everything up to try to move it out to Warfield Boulevard. I’m the one that booked the meeting that we had at the church on Dunbar Cave Road. Most of the people that I spoke to wouldn’t have had a problem with it from the community said that they would prefer the road to come from Warfield.”
Traffic, schools and cost
Those speaking against the project were Rick Reda and Charles Burnett Jr.
“We’re in a predicament because we have the hospital so close. You lock up 374 with this traffic, and we can see this week what happened, it’s a great example, and we are just infrastructure down on the road,” Reda said, citing the previous accidents on I-24 West.
He also noted there are already other housing developments under construction nearby.
Burnett cited similar concerns and noted the project would put increased pressure on local schools. In addition, he explained that since this would be a high-end development, many may not be able to afford to live there.
“This isn’t going to match up with the pay scale of those people that are going to be working as laborers, etc., in all these different plants that are coming into Clarksville,” he said. “It’s a money maker. They’re not out for Clarksville.”
Councilman Joe Shakeenab asked the residents who were against the project to stand, and over a dozen did so.
Mayor Joe Pitts had to call for order using his gavel multiple times during the hearing and regular session as audience members clapped and cheered at comments directed against the project.
The vote
Following the public hearing, Councilperson Wallace Redd moved to refer the plan back to the RPC.
“The applicants, they went through the effort to acquire the adjoining property to answer the question of the traffic, and they’re doing what they can. And since they bought that, I believe that the least we could do would be to send it back (to the RPC). It would come right before this body again,” Redd said.
Shakeenab later stated he would prefer to vote on the plan as presented.
“It’s presented here today. We should vote today. That’s what the people want.”
Councilperson Stacey Streetman also asked the council to vote against sending the plan back to the RPC and stated that regardless of the changes, the project will still create increased traffic in the area.
“Whether it connects directly to Rossview or whether it doesn’t connect directly to Rossview, that traffic on Warfield, where do you think it’s going to go? It may not be all of it that goes onto Rossview, but there’s going to be a substantial amount, especially if you have anybody that’s going to school over there,” she said.
Councilperson Brian Zacharias joined Redd in speaking in favor of sending the plan back to the RPC.
“I will say that I am very skeptical that a new PUD plan is going to alleviate the concerns of the residents. I do think that the developer should be able to present a plan for us to vote on, and as of right now, what they’re telling us is that they’re not interested in building what they put in front of us. They want to revise that plan, and I think they should have that opportunity.”
The council voted 9-4 to refer the project back to the RPC.
Those in favor were Zacharias, Redd, Pitts, Ambar Marquis, Wanda Smith, Travis Holleman, Wanda Allen, Karen Reynolds and Trisha Butler.
Those opposed were Richmond, Dajuan Little, Streetman and Shakeenab.