CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – A resolution went to the Montgomery County Budget Committee this week seeking authorization for the acquisition of a portion of land, through eminent domain, to allow for the continuation of John Duke Tyler Boulevard in the Hickory Wild subdivision.
While it was approved and now moves to the Montgomery County Commission for consideration next month, several community members aren’t happy about the idea, with the main issue being the safety of children due to increased traffic.
Currently, there is only one way in and out of Hickory Wild, which presents safety issues during emergencies, such as the February 2025 flood that closed Dunlop Lane and cut off access to the neighborhood’s 270 homes.
Road to north begun but never finished
Regional Planning Commission Director Jeff Tyndall told the Budget Committee Monday that the piece of land in question is approximately 15 feet by 100-110 feet wide and owned by the Hickory Wild HOA.
“So, you’re talking about 1,500-1,600 square feet, not very much land,” he said. “When Hickory Wild Section 1 was platted back in the early 2000s, it was part of a bigger Hickory Wild project; the original plan was (for John Duke Tyler Boulevard) to go all the way from where it is now up (north) through Dunlop Lane to the north and Kirkwood to the east.”
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Tyndall said back in 2006-08, around the time the housing crisis hit the nation, the property had been sold off by pieces. “And it’s kind of been reassembled by a certain developer out there who sold it off to other developers. It’s changed hands many times,” he said. “When this was platted, however, you can see this very thin line of homeowner’s association land that runs between their clubhouse and the perimeter to the west.
“It could have just been a drafting error, but it was not picked up and recorded this way, so the homeowner’s association owns this little strip of land that separates two subdivisions’ rights-of-way. You can see the property with the TVA and the easement over it called MVM Properties,” Tyndall told the Budget Committee.
He referenced a plan that the Planning Commission gave preliminary approval to for about 150 more homes in the community. “The owner/ developer will dedicate the needed rights of way on the MVM property and will construct the remainder of the road on this property,” he said.
Eminent domain easier than HOA vote
Tyndall said the condition was if Montgomery County does acquire the property in question, the developer would have it as part of the right-of-way before constructing the road. He said he does not expect them to construct the road until well into next year.
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“So, this is just, I believe, a proper use of eminent domain to continue a public road that will eventually stretch all the way to the north once the last phase of Wellington Fields is done. It’ll go from Dunlop Lane all the way to the other part of Dunlop Lane out where it does now,” Tyndall said. “These are public roads and we just ask for you to start the process so we can get this needed connection between all these subdivisions completed.”
When asked if the landowners are willing to sell the land, Tyndall said there was a 51% owner up until several months ago. “Now that he’s no longer the 51% owner, it’s harder to get HOA approval; it would have to be a community vote, so this is just an easier way to do it. We’ve been in touch with the community president and let them know and supplied this to her so that they know this is coming.”
Residents worried about speeding
On Wednesday, Clarksville Now spoke with the president of the Hickory Wild HOA, Camille Jones, who said she is against the continuation of John Duke Tyler Boulevard due to concerns about speeding cars.
“We’re not just talking about residents; we’re talking about delivery drivers, construction vehicles, you name it. They fly through our neighborhood, even in front of our playground,” she said.
Jones said the problem heightened when John Duke Tyler Boulevard was opened as a temporary dirt road for emergency access during flooding in 2025. “That’s why we reached out to the county, and we said that this is such a problem. Over and over again, we reached out.”
Eventually, the unfinished roadway was closed back up. Clarksville Now also spoke with Hickory Wild resident Clancy Glenn, a mother of five, who has one child with autism and a 3-year-old who she said was almost hit by a speeding driver this summer.
“Without John Duke Tyler Boulevard even being open, we have had close calls,” Glenn said.
Jones also said there are other ways to get the needed road connections, and she believes those should have been put into place years ago. “Had it been planned appropriately, had it been planned the way that would have taken care of the people and our subdivision, then we wouldn’t be having these conversations,” she said.
“Had they appropriately connected Tacoma (Drive) to Dunlop (Lane), we wouldn’t be having these conversations. Had they connected any of the stub-out roads at any period of time, we would not have been stuck with 270 lots having one entrance.”
Jones says there are other access points coming to other stub roads in the neighborhood – at Remington Trace and at Shield Drive.
The Montgomery County Commission meets Monday, Nov. 2, at 6 p.m. in the County Courthouse.
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