The Cookeville Planning Commission voted Monday to approve a rezoning request that clears the path for a new high-density single-family neighborhood on Boyd Farris Road.
The property is located off Highway 111 and Boyd Farris Road and is currently split between commercial and residential zoning. Community Development Director Jon Ward presented the application for the sixteen-acre tract which is currently vacant.
“The application notes they’re requesting rezoning for the ability to develop a single-family home neighborhood that is fee simple for sale and contains one-level ranch homes with attached garages,” Ward said. “The application further notes the developers have received approval from the city of Cookeville for up to 40 homes.”
The developer submitted a concept sketch showing seventy-four lots for the site. To exceed the forty homes already approved, approximately 2,200 linear feet of sewer main must be upgraded at the developer’s expense. Ward said the proposal represents a downzone in intensity from the current commercial and industrial designation.
“This proposal would be a downzone in intensity from any commercial or industrial use,” Ward said. “And the RS-5 zoning designation has been interpreted and compliant in the lower-density single-family residential designated areas.”
During the public hearing, neighboring property owner Delane Stewart expressed concerns regarding the increased traffic on Highway 111 and the potential loss of local wildlife. She questioned the impact of high-density housing on the character of the existing community.
“I love the wildlife, I love that we have a beautiful town, it has beautiful we have songbirds that you cannot even think of that other places don’t have because we take it for granted,” Stewart said. “What are we going to do when the deer disappear, when the turkey disappear, and when all the bunny rabbits disappear, but not only that, but our songbirds disappear?”
Applicant Stephen Claire addressed the commission to confirm plans for a buffer zone between the new development and existing homes. He noted that the irregular shape of the property requires clustering homes in the interior of the site.
“As she mentioned, we plan to buffer her boundary as well as the other two property owners’ boundaries that are residential going towards 111 with a type one buffer,” Claire said. “I don’t know that it’s required, but I think that we feel it would be a good idea just because they’re very used to living where they’re not looking at folks.”
The commission voted unanimously to approve the rezoning request.