CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – More than 5 acres on the southern side of Dover Road have been requested for rezoning for an archery range where hunting supplies would also be sold.
The applicant is Arthur Clark, and he and his family are looking to transition 5 acres of agricultural to C-5 highway and arterial commercial district. Clark spoke to the Regional Planning Commission at their meeting on Tuesday. He said his family is from Evansville, Indiana, but he’s hunted in the Clarksville area since he was a kid.
“I always dreamed of coming up here, so when our kids got older, we bought a place. Of course, with the archery range, it’s not just a business,” Clark said. “We’re going to use it for outreach to the community. Where I was from before, I was a part of an archery team, and I studied the business (side) of it. We had a team there, and I plan on doing the same here.”
Clark said one side of the business will sell supplies to hunters in the area, given the demand, while the other side of the business will be an indoor archery range for those interested in developing their shot, including children wanting to learn more about archery.
Clark said he is a level two archery coach through S3DA, and his wife, Beth Clark, confirmed they can build a local archery team through S3DA.
“We’ve been told there’s nowhere for kids to shoot archery. This is for families and children to get together and have a little friendly competition,” she said.
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RPC staff recommends disapproval
RPC Deputy Director John Spainhoward Jr. said the land sits in what has been designated as “rural reserve” in the Growth Plan. He said the acreage is currently a grassland field with tree lines, and it is in the Woodlawn Dotsonville Planning Area.
“The Montgomery County Highway Department stated that a traffic assessment for Oakwood and Old Dover Road intersection is required. This traffic assessment only provided the accesses to Highway 79,” said Spainhoward. “No access would be granted to Old Dover Road until a traffic assessment has been provided for the Old Dover Road intersection. At Oakwood Road, additional requirements may be established as part of the TDOT site plan review process.”
RPC staff recommended disapproval of the rezoning, because of it not being consistent with the overall goals and objectives of the Clarksville-Montgomery County Comprehensive Plan, said Spainhoward.
“This request does not align with the rural reserve future land use designation,” he said. “Mr. Clark made several trips to the codes department, and to our office, to try and look at different, less intense zones to allow for these items. Ultimately, it centered on C-5 as the zone that allowed him to accomplish what he was trying to do.”
RPC Commissioner and City Councilperson Stacey Streetman made a motion for approval for the proposed rezone due to the existing C-5 in the area, as well as it being a benefit to the community, she said.
The RPC unanimously recommended approval. The rezoning will go before the Montgomery County Commission on Monday, April 6, at 6 p.m.
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