Cookeville’s Board of Zoning Appeals approved three variances Thursday for a proposed 106-unit assisted living facility with 24 memory care beds at Guardian Way and Salem Church Road.
Planning Director Jon Ward said the board approved adjustments to parking, building setbacks and landscaping requirements. The project also includes an extension of Guardian Way connecting Old Walton Road to Salem Church Road.
“The petitioner argued that our parking requirement was excessive for their needs. I mean, they have these all over the country and a small reduction like that,” Ward said. “They argued that our requirements were way above what they ever needed.”
Ward said the developers have not provided a construction timeline. The variance approvals address portions of the proposed site plan that did not meet existing zoning requirements.
Cookeville Planner Chris Phillips said the board approved reducing required parking from 167 spaces to 156, a 7 percent reduction. The facility’s proposed site plan also required adjustments to accommodate the street extension.
Phillips said the board approved reducing the required front setback from 50 feet to 48 feet along a 36-foot section of the building. The change affects approximately 68 square feet of the proposed structure.
“I just want to clarify that they did pinch it down on this west end, but on the eastern end, there’s a lot more area,” Ward said.
The final variance reduces the required landscape strip from 10 feet to 5 feet along a 54-foot stretch near the western entrance. The reduction affects approximately 172 square feet of the required landscape area.
Ward said the street extension has undergone review as part of the city’s planning process, including consideration of the development and surrounding properties.
“It’s being constructed to a major collector cross-section, it should be able to handle everything out there,” Ward said.
In other business, the board scheduled a special called meeting for next Thursday at 5pm to hear an administrative appeal.