The Cookeville Planning Commission approved an increased density of 12 homes for property along Bill Smith Road Monday night.
Residents voiced concerns including increased traffic and possible poor quality in the construction. James Loates lives about a block from the lot. He said photos presented at the meeting do not show how small it is.
“Every one of you should drive by there and think about jamming 16 homes on that,” Loates said. “It’s ridiculous, and it would ruin our neighborhood, which we all have yards, and it’s a nice place to live. We’ve all worked hard to be there and have those homes.”
Loates said he did not see any signage on the lot regarding potential rezoning. He said as of Monday, no sign exists. He said notice was not received until last week.
Several residents cited poor and inaccurate notice during their comments. Residents who live within 600 feet of a proposed rezoning project are to be notified, but one resident said she found out from another neighbor.
Owner Donny Meadows had asked the commission to rezone the 3.68 acres. It currently holds an RS-20 zoning, meaning up to six single family homes can be built on the lot. Meadows’ original request asked to change that to RS-5, increasing that to 16.
“It’ll be new construction, it’ll be new energy efficiency, they’ll be landscaped, that’ll be done and addressed in a proper way,” Meadows said. “I’ve got to do that in order to sell them. I’m not looking to put 16 there. Let it be known that I would be happy with a lesser zoning.”
Meadows said the homes would be modular units with a block foundation.
Darma Ire lives near the proposed development. She she moved to Cookeville because she felt her values were similar to those of the city. Ire said she is all for Cookeville growing, but she wants the city to proceed wisely.
“This is not opposing housing,” Ire said. “This is not opposing affordable housing. This is about opposing a poorly placed project. One that fails to align with the needs of future residents and the safety of our existing community.”
Ire said she would rather see developments like this in areas deeper into the city, where jobs and groceries are easily accessible. Ire said she was concerned affordable housing being isolated would not support potential tenants.
Meadows said he sent proposals for RS-5, RS-7.5, and RS-10 subdivisions. Meadows said each home would be built and sold, not rented. Meadows and the City of Cookeville have already entered into a cost sharing agreement to extend sewer lines to the land.
Cookeville City Council must still approve the rezoning.
