Cookeville City Council will hold a May 5th referendum next year on the proposed annexation of some 275 acres in the Dodson Branch Road area.
Community Development Director Jon Ward said the Election Commission recommended holding the referendum as part of the regular election cycle, instead of conducting a special election.
“This annexation was initiated by an annexation request from a property owner to annex approximately 65 acres located within the city’s urban growth boundary,” Ward said. “Upon studying the annexation request and to efficiently and effectively deliver public services, the city, upon its own initiative, included additional area in the annexation, bringing the total proposed annexation area to approximately 275 acres.”
State law now requires a referendum on annexations, limiting towns and cities from expanding. Officials have called it an almost impossible barrier.
The May 5 vote will be part of Putnam County’s primary elections next year.
“(It) would be much more cost-effective than conducting a special election,” Ward said.
The Council will conduct another public hearing on the proposed annexation, Ward said, which will include a full discussion of city services, the proposed scope and rollout.
In other business, City Council sent back to the Planning Commission a proposed zoning change that would have allowed the division of commercial property. The rules are similar to what is allowed with residential property.
Council Members had numerous questions again Thursday night about how such rules would interact with commercial property regulations, such as parking. Council indicated some concerns about the policy during a Monday Work Session.
Ward said commercial developers had requested the change.
Council also approved changes to the Hotel/Motel Tax Ordinance to provide the city more teeth in dealing with delinquent payments.