Updated with additional comments from Commissioner Jorge Padro.
CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – During a public meeting of the Montgomery County Commission on Monday, one commissioner was candid and explicit about a rezoning resolution.
When talking about a proposed subdivision, District 9 Commissioner Jorge Padro said the project could create a “cluster f—.” The comment was addressed by the county mayor, and the property owner also had something to say about the use of strong language by an official at a public meeting.
Proposed subdivision
Two items were for consideration during Monday night at the county’s informal session. The first, and most controversial, was a request from Benton Walker, who owns and operates Benton Builders.
Walker was requesting that 9.75 acres of his family farm be rezoned to R-1 from Agricultural (AG). The land faces Deerwood Road and is south of Highway 41-A South. Walker said he is looking to develop a single-family subdivision on that property featuring around 15 homes costing around half a million dollars each.
“It will be upscale. You can’t build a house in that area for under 400 grand,” Walker told Clarksville Now. “It’s my family farm. It means a lot to me to build homes on my own family farm. This is a process that’s going to take five years. I plan to build them all, and I’m not going to sell it to a developer. I plan to do all this on my own.”
Walker presented the case to the commission last year, but the resolution was voted down due to concerns over the amount of land being developed on just one side of the property.
“I’ve done all the right things. I tried to get this approved last year on the full 18 acres and split the acreage off just like they asked me to do. So I feel pretty confident that I’ve done everything I need to do to make it pass.”
Commissioner Padro’s comments
During the public hearing, Walker was the only one who spoke in favor of the project. Several residents who live nearby were at the meeting. The commission heard from four residents, with the final resident asking those present in favor of disapproval to stand. Around a dozen members of the audience stood.
Most of the objections were for lack of fire hydrants, infrastructure concerns, and increased traffic. But the most vocal opponent may have been Commissioner Padro, who cited concerns over traffic and problems bus drivers could face.
“I think we’ve reached a point where quality of life has gone out the window. I cringe just to think – excuse my French – of the cluster f— that could be created with this development,” Padro said, drawing some gasps and murmurs from those attending.
County Mayor Wes Golden immediately responded by asking Padro to keep the language appropriate. Padro then corrected his statement to replace the term previously used.
“OK, sorry Mr. Mayor. The nightmare that will be created,” responded Padro.
Following the meeting, Walker spoke about Padro’s comment.
“I don’t think he (Padro) should be elected. I think they ought to kick him off right now. Today. That’s embarrassing as a county resident,” Walker told Clarksville Now.
Padro called Clarksville Now on Tuesday with this statement: “Last night during the County Commission meeting, I meant to make a statement about a zoning request, and was trying to emphasize why I disagreed with the rezoning. I made a poor word choice and do not want my comment to reflect negatively on our community or my fellow commissioners. I will seriously consider how to express myself with decorum in the future. I want to assure the people that I represent in District 9 to know that I am sincerely sorry and that this will not happen again. I look forward to making a positive difference in the progress for Montgomery County.”
Rezoning proposal for warehouse
The second item discussed during the public hearing was a request from H&H Sheetmetal Fabricators Inc. to rezone 21.75 acres from AG to C-5. The land is located east of Guthrie Highway, northeast of Shadybrook Lane, and south of the Kentucky state line. The applicant stated on their application they are looking to build a warehouse.
Local contractor and real estate agent Randy Whetsell spoke for disapproval, along with some of his neighbors who were present. They cited concerns over decreased property values and potential flooding at Browns Creek, which five homes in that area already face.
“We have 21 acres of possible asphalt coming in. Where is the water going to go? Straight to Browns Creek,” Whetsell said.
Concerns were also expressed regarding possible manufacturing at the site. Jeffery Tyndall, director of the Clarksville-Montgomery County Regional Planning Commission, noted the property, if zoned C-5, would not be eligible for a manufacturing plant but rather only a warehouse for storage.
The Planning Commission recommended approval for both zone changes. The Montgomery County Commission will vote on both measures at their next session, at 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 10, in the commission chambers at the County Courthouse.
This article has been updated with comments from District 9 Commissioner Jorge Padro.