CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – A proposed zone change for around 3 acres of land has been deferred one month per the request of the applicant, PB&J Properties. The applicant is proposing the land transition from R-1 family residential district to Planned Unit Development (PUD), which in turn would make way for the development of a 5-story apartment building in downtown Clarksville.
The apartment building would be at the northeast corner of Riverside Drive and Cumberland Drive. The building would be made up of 72 apartment units and 124 parking spaces. Out of those units, 32 are expected to be one-bedroom apartments while the other 40 would be two bedrooms.
The decision to defer comes after the proposed zone change was discussed at last week’s City Council meeting. Clarksville-Montgomery County Regional Planning Director, Jeffery Tyndall, told the council the RPC, as well as RPC staff, recommended the resolution for approval. Tyndall also referenced a previous traffic impact study that suggested the driveway location and level of service would not adversely impact the Cumberland Drive and Edgehill Drive intersections.
It was also said for the intersection of Manning Heights and Cumberland Drive; the Street Department is shifting it 50 feet so it would become more perpendicular to create more stacking, according to Street Department Director David Smith. “The improvements to Manning Heights as it heads out toward Cumberland Drive is well met with the fire department’s desire for improvements there,” Smith said. “It’s shifting 50 feet up farther up Edgehill, and Edgehill is widening through the boundary of the property.”
Tyndall clarified Edgehill Drive will be widened five feet for the length of the project. “I believe it sits somewhere between 18-20 feet now, and it will be widened five additional feet. So, it will be 23-25 feet (wide) from this property towards Cumberland Drive,” Tyndall said.
Continued traffic concerns
However, some council members still had concerns with how the development would impact the traffic in the area, including Councilperson Carlos Peters who checked out the site for himself. Peters said he saw several issues with how the plans are currently laid out, including just how narrow Edgehill Drive can be with cars parked off the side of the roadway.
“I really don’t see how you would get a large firetruck up through there,” Peters said. “I drive a GMC; I could barely fit through there coming down it today.”
Peters said he also has concerns with potential residents of the apartment building traveling east back up Manning Heights, which will then create an influx in traffic in the area as they look to transition onto Cumberland Drive. “Just because you move an intersection 50 feet, you still have to come down on Riverside Drive. I do not think that’s going to abate that issue. I think we’re going to have a problem coming the other direction off of Manning Heights. That road is not wide enough to accommodate a lot of traffic like that.”
Councilperson Travis Holleman said he also has concerns with how the development would shape traffic. Specifically, he mentioned his concern with motorists not wanting to turn left on Riverside Drive coming from Manning Heights, who then decide to cut through Edgehill Drive and the subdivision in the area.
“That subdivision has trees that are overgrown, there are parts that are hilly and have poor visibility. This is a safety concern and a concern for the residents as well.”
With the proposed zone change being deferred one month, the topic will be revisited at the City Council’s next meeting, which is set to take place on Thursday, Feb. 27.
Clarksville Now has reached out to PB&J Properties for comment.