CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – After months of consideration, a proposal to rezone land on Riverside and Cumberland Drives for a 5-story apartment building has been narrowly voted down by the City Council.

The developer, PB&J Properties, proposed to rezone around 2.88 acres from R-1 to Planned Unit Development (PUD) to pave way for the 5-story building that would be made up of 72 apartment units and 125 parking spaces.

The ordinance was originally deferred back to the Regional Planning Commission until a traffic impact assessment was completed. Previously, the council said they have concerns with location of the development.

RPC Director Jeffery Tyndall told the council last week the traffic impact assessment was conducted and found the additional traffic from the development will not adversely affect the intersection level of service. With that information, the RPC once again recommended the rezoning be approved.

However, it didn’t seem to matter to the City Council. A number of council members highlighted not only their concerns about the project, but the concerns constituents have with it as well.

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Councilperson Travis Holleman said it’s pretty clear the majority of residents that live in the area of Riverside and Cumberland Drives are against the development. He then pointed out the number of protestors with signs in the audience and asked, “If you’re here for the PUD, can you raise your hand?” Hands were raised around the room.

Councilperson Wanda Smith said a number of her constituents in Ward 6 voiced objections directly to her. “I’ve heard many concerns, and that bothers me. … We need to listen to our citizens because they live there,” she said.

Councilperson Stacey Streetman said over the years, they’ve heard a lot of people talk about how they wished there was more located along Riverside Drive. Streetman added that the area had been designated as an opportunity zone because of the opportunity to develop. With that, she said it can be a catalyst for that area and acknowledged she’d be voting for the zone change.

Councilperson Wallace Redd picked up where Streetman left off and said he’s for the development because of the economic activity and housing opportunities that would be created.

The City Council voted 7-6 against the proposed zone change. Council members Smith, Holleman, Brian Zacharias, Dajuan Little, Wanda Allen, Karen Reynolds and Joe Shakeenab voted no.

Council members Redd, Streetman, Deanna McLaughlin, Ambar Marquis, Keri Lovato and Mayor Joe Pitts voted yes.

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