The Cookeville Planning Commission has approved amending the city’s zoning code to allow subdividing commercial units on individual lots.
Community Development Director Jon Ward said the amendment will allow commercial properties to be broken into smaller lots and be sold individually. Ward said access drives and parking would be considered common elements managed by a commercial development agreement. Ward said the amended code will provide business flexibility in commercial development.
“It could be, you know, an asset, a benefit to a business trying to get started, where they can make an investment in a property to get their business going,” Ward said. “You know, versus you know, not having those types of options. Only having to lease or something like that.”
Ward said the city received multiple requests to consider this type of development.
“We’ve been approached multiple times about, you know, considering this,” Ward said. “So I’m sure that the folks that are building these types of spaces are being approached by businesses about that.”
Ward said the planning commission had tabled the decision in August before approving it in September.
“It was tabled last month because the planning commission, you know, they wanted to do an additional study before they made a recommendation,” Ward said.
Ward said the recommendation will now go to the city council for approval. Ward said the council will be scheduling a public hearing for the change sometime in November.