CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Numerous members of the local community have spoken out about concerns they have with a rezoning case located off of Dunlop Lane, which would transition around 50 acres of land from AG to M-1 with a buffer of C-2.
Three concerned citizens took to the podium at the informal Montgomery County Commission meeting last week, and they spoke in opposition for the land being rezoned for various different reasons.
Before they were able to speak, the applicant, Benjamin Stanley, spoke in favor of the rezoning and asked for the commission’s support.
During his time at the podium, he pointed out that due to the feedback from the community and the RPC (Regional Planning Commission), instead of asking for the entire property being rezoned to M-2, they downsized to what’s being asked in the current request.
Stanley also said thanks to the injection well that was placed on-site in 2020, flooding in the area has been reduced. The applicant said the future engineer’s site plans would only help the reduction of water on the property too.
Stanley expects to place something along the lines of a daycare, mini storage or a small retail store in the C-2 buffer zone. As for the M-1 zoning, he expects the space to be used for a contractor’s office for the local business community.
While Stanley did listen to the community and worked with the RPC to downsize his zoning request, some members of the local community still aren’t comfortable with his request.
Protection of a smart growth area
One resident said based off the 2040 Montgomery County Growth Plan, there are ten principles for smart growth, which includes to need to preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty and critical environment areas.
He said that the land at hand is the epitome of a smart growth area and rezoning would be the direct contrast of the principle.
Another resident said the RPC never intended for Dunlop Lane to be used as a direct access road for a project like the one at hand and persisted on the area still being a flood zone.
The third and final speaker said that based off what the previous two speakers said, their statements are more than enough for the commission to reject the case.
The resident said that while the application states that all four sides are surrounded by M-2, he believes the statement is false. They went on to say that based off these facts, the application seems incomplete and should be denied.
The County Commission will vote on the rezoning case during their formal meeting on Monday, Sept. 11 at 6:00 p.m.