Cookeville’s desire to expand its Urban Growth Boundary took a step forward Monday night after the city’s planning commission approved an expansion plan.
The boundary sets limits and defines areas in which the city could expand. Community Development Director Jon Ward said the expansion would total an estimated 4,225 acres or 6.6 miles. It would expand the boundary to the east, south, and west.
“The city has received requests to annex parcels located outside of our urban growth boundary,” Ward said. “Annexation outside of the city’s urban growth boundary can primarily only occur by referendum. Areas inside the city’s UGB can be annexed without a referendum by owner consent.”
Ward said since 2000, the City of Cookeville has annexed an estimated total of 9,099 acres or 14.22 square miles within the urban growth boundary. Ward said an estimated 11,250 people live in the proposed expanded areas.
“We do have limited data outside of the city limits, so that is just an estimate,” Ward said.
Ward said it is anticipated that the Putnam County Joint Economic and Community Development Board will be appointed for the review process. Ward said the expansion has already been reviewed with the city’s Energy Department, Public Works Department, and Water Quality Control Department.
“Areas that we are looking at are for potential industrial development, you know, residential development, things like that,” Ward said. “And so we are primarily looking at where there are vacant tracts that would accommodate development, too.”
The commission unanimously approved the plan.
Cookeville City Council has set two public hearings for the month of December regarding the proposed expansion plan. The hearings will take place at 5:30pm on December 4 and December 18. The hearing will be held in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
