County votes to rezone for apartments near industrial park
Jimmy Settle
USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — The majority of Montgomery County commissioners apparently weren't convinced that rezoning property across Rollow Lane from the Corporate Business Park will be a significant deterrent to recruiting industry.
Monday evening, the commissioners voted 15-5, with one abstention, to rezone about 14 acres from commercial to multifamily residential uses.
"Yes" votes came from, among others, Commissioner John Gannon, who said Monday he saw no reason from past history why the rezoning would be significantly damaging to the surrounding area. He was joined in the affirmative vote by commissioners Ed Baggett, Joe Weyant, Robert Gibbs, Arnold Hodges, Brandon Butts, Joe Creek, Robert Nichols, Audrey Tooley, Tommy Vallejos, David Harper, Wallace Redd, Jason Hodges, Jerry Allbert and Larry Rocconi.
The five "no" votes were from commissioners Charlie Keene, Ron Sokol, John Genis, Martha Brockman, and Garland Johnson. Commissioner Monroe Gildersleeve abstained.
It had been a controversial measure, with local developers Rex Hawkins, Dennis Ziolkowski and Jimmy Settle ultimately winning out with the argument that they were within their rights to gain the rezoning from C-5 Highway & Arterial Commercial District, to R-4 Multiple Family Residential District.
Mike Evans, executive director of the Clarksville-Montgomery County Industrial Development Board, was unable to sway most commissioners in his argument that further residential development next to the industrial park threatens taxpayers' 2001 combined city and county investment of $28.6 million in that park through what he called residential "encroachment" that could damage job recruitment efforts.
Ziolkowski has said their property zoned C-5 has been sitting vacant for a long time, and R-4 significantly improves the chances of making it profitable not only for them, but the entire community.
He and Settle said with apartments, it will generate an additional, estimated $200,000 in county property taxes.
Other action
In other action Monday, commissioners decided to delay until October, further action on a proposal to give the downtown and riverfront revitalization group, Two Rivers Company, an additional $150,000. Commissioner David Harper wanted more time to study alternative funding sources for TRC.
And, two checks were presented Monday, one from the Clarksville-Montgomery County Community Health Foundation for almost $299,000, and the other from local Rotarians, for $323,000, to support the Rotary Field of Dreams under development by county Parks & Recreation at St. Bethlehem Civitan Park.
The Field of Dreams is a specially designed, multipurpose sports field and family playground designed to "meet the unique requirements of our county's special needs athletes, families and support networks," Rotary has said.
The idea is to eliminate traditional barriers that discourage special needs children and adults from being able to use a traditional field. "Obstacles such as natural grass, uneven surfaces, constrained accessibility for those who are disabled, injured, or otherwise challenged will be overcome with the (Americans With Disabilities Act)-compliant poured rubber turf surfaces," Rotary said.
There are currently 16 organized sports teams for special needs in Clarksville-Montgomery County. A new field is hoped to support expanding to 24 teams within two years. The goal is to also create conditions to host a Special Needs World Series in Montgomery County.
Reach Business Editor Jimmy Settle at 931-245-0247 and on Twitter @settle_leaf.