Cookeville Board of Zoning Appeals approved a variance request to allow the subdivision of a 1.43-acre lot on Sliger Road despite vocal opposition from several longtime residents.
Planner Chris Phillips said the request came from Greg DeWeese to reduce the minimum lot width at the setback line from 100 feet to 92 feet for two proposed new lots. The property is currently zoned RS15 single-family residential and the request represents an 8 percent variance, which falls within the 10 percent threshold typically considered by the board.
“The petitioner notes, this is a minor variance that will allow reasonable use of the property while maintaining the residential character of the surrounding neighborhood,” Phillips said, “The packet also notes, this small deviation will not alter the appearance, function or character of the neighborhood.”
Phillips said the subject property is bordered by general commercial zoning to the west and residential properties to the north, south, and east. The proposed lots meet the 15,000-square-foot minimum area requirement for the RS15 district.
“The character and nature of the neighborhood that drew people here was that these lots supported building one house,” resident Dawn Cope said. “And if you allow for this variance, it’s going to allow for a subdivision into lots, regardless of the width or the size. That changes in itself the character of the neighborhood.”
Cope said the subdivision would double the density of the area and set a precedent for other properties in the neighborhood. Cope said residents are concerned about increased noise volume and traffic.
“I don’t think I would bring anything in front of the board that I think would be detrimental to the city,” Phillips said. “You know, the basis of this is it’s gonna make this characteristic of the neighborhood, and it’s gonna fit in with it very well, I think.”
The board said the proposed lot sizes would be similar to those across the street from the neighborhood. The board said the project would also involve removing a vacant home currently located on the property.
“If you have 20 homes in the core of this neighborhood and you subdivide them and make it 40, it makes a big difference,” Cope said. “Huge difference. This is a fairly quiet… there are a lot of trees.”
The board said the Planning Division recommended approval because the request would not be injurious to surrounding properties.
