A secondary access point for a proposed church on Cookeville’s Neal Street will not move forward after several residents voiced concerns.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints requested a secondary access point on Maple Point Drive in addition to an access point on Neal Street after completing a traffic impact study. 28 households on Maple Point Drive signed and submitted a letter of strong opposition against the secondary access point, including resident Marty Donnelly.
“This proposal threatens the safety, character, and infrastructure of our tightly knit, family-oriented community,” Donnelly said. “We urge the commission to deny this request, preserving the peaceful residential values of the Villas at Maple Point.”
Cookeville Community Development Director Jon Ward said the city does not require a secondary access for the new church and that the secondary access was proposed by the church. Jack Grayson, on behalf of the church, said the church worked with planning officials from the city to select the secondary access point.
“We’re trying to protect your current use of the property,” Grayson said. “If you would like, you can coordinate with the city’s planning officials and get your concerns to us if there’s things that you would like to note in our design of the church here.”
Several more residents spoke against granting a secondary access point on Maple Point Drive. Maple Point Homeowners Association Treasurer Tony Reid said the Maple Point Drive is a quiet street that is the only exit from the neighborhood.
“Already we have some problems exiting, especially if we turn south on Maple towards Veterans,” Reid said. “We, as an HOA representing our neighborhood, object to using Maple Point Drive as a new entrance and exit, creating more traffic at that intersection.”
Grayson said the access point would only have an impact on Sundays. Grayson said he attended the meeting to hear the concerns residents had with the development.
“I can tell you that the church is among the very many potential neighbors you could have on this property,” Grayson said. “They’ll be good neighbors for you to have, compared to what you could have.”
The church is planning to build a 17,000 square-foot building at 750 Neal Street.