CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Land off of Interstate 24 near Exit 4 has been approved for annexation after an 8-5 vote by the City Council Thursday night.
The 208-acre tract of land sits between I-24 and Oakland Road, just north of Exit 4. This land has now become part of the city limits. Rezoning was included in the annexation, with part of the land changing from AG (agricultural) to C2 and to C4 (commercial).
The applicant is now able to build 600 housing units, which includes townhomes and multi-family units. The applicant can also construct the Veterans Affairs facility outlined in their proposal. However, if that plan falls through, the new zoning will allow for commercial, retail, hotel and office space instead.
During previous discussions about the annexation, council members expressed concerns to one of the developers, Vernon Weakley. These included the need for a public park in Ward 12, and the need for an additional right-of-way for a lane to hold traffic in and out of that development.
Weakley said his team would be open to doing both.
Opening discussions
Several members of the council spoke in support of the annexation Thursday, including the newly appointed representative for Ward 12, Keri Lovato. The property is in her ward.
Before the meeting, Lovato spoke with the sellers, the Kennedys, to get a better understanding of their perspective.
“It’s important to consider their situation when we’re talking about this,” Lovato said. “The land has been in their family for five generations, but they do not farm this land themselves. They lease it for pennies on the dollar, because the surrounding development has made farming no longer appropriate for that area.
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“They have been good stewards of this land, and they’ve been cooperative multiple times when their land was used to amend the roads I-24, Oakland (Road) and other utilities. Now, they are in their 80s. They only have two adult children and no grandchildren, so there is no one to carry on this family farm,” Lovato said.
“Their vision is to leave behind a legacy to the community that aligns with their family values. They believe that Mr. Weakley’s current sketch of a combined commercial, residential and public park area will do that for their vision.”
Lovato noted that her constituents have expressed concerns about traffic. However, she said that regardless of the decision tonight, that land will eventually be developed, and new residents will be using those resources.
“These concerns are valid and should be taken seriously, but the planning is appropriate. It is a reasonable request and we’re in a position to work toward traffic mitigation and infrastructure development to accommodate the plans and reserve the rights and legacy of the Kennedys. So, I hope you will vote yes for this.”
Additional support
Councilperson Ambar Marquis said annexing the land would help the city balance out the congestion in the area.
“I looked into that situation with the subdivision adjacent to this potential annexation, and their traffic concerns. But the issue presented is that you have city limits at the north and the south, then the centered gap is county. If we were to annex this, that little strip of land becomes the city.”
Marquis said she would like to see the city use that opportunity to expand Meriwether/Oakland Road.
Council concerns
Councilperson Karen Reynolds said she would rather the land be annexed with its existing AG zoning, then go through the planning process to get approval for C2.
Councilperson Deanna McLaughlin said she’s concerned that the city doesn’t have enough law enforcement to cover the additional apartments.
She also said schools in this area are already overwhelmed. McLaughlin said she would imagine that the annexation would force the county to use tax dollars to build more schools for the residents that could potentially live there.
The annexation passed 8-5. The no votes were McLaughlin, Reynolds, Brian Zacharias, Joe Shakeenab and Joe Pitts.