In Clarksville rezoning, more apartments proposed near north industrial park

The Montgomery County Commission is weighing the possibility of property rezoning that would allow for expanded multi-family residential development in the vicinity of Guthrie Highway, and the Clarksville-Montgomery County Corporate Business Park North.

Commissioners could vote up or down Monday night on the application of DGTF Clark Enterprises LLC Clarksville, for a zone change from C-5 Highway & Arterial Commercial District and AG Agricultural District, to R-4 Multiple-Family Residential District and C-5 Highway & Arterial Commercial District.

The location where apartments could be added under this rezoning — perhaps around 185 units by historical estimates, according to the Regional Planning Commission — is 15.4 acres at the northwest corner of the Guthrie Highway and Spring Creek Village Road intersection.

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The applicant's formally-stated reason for the requested rezoning is "to remove AG from the center of the property, and for future uses."

Both the Regional Planning Commission and its planning staff have recommended approval of the rezoning to the County Commission.

While just this portion of the site could see up to 185 apartment units, according to RPC Director Jeff Tyndall, all R-4-zoned property in the vicinity could eventually host 792 total units.

And, Commissioner Garland Johnson has a problem with that, especially given that it is so close to some of Clarksville's largest industrial facilities, to include LG and Google.

"Honestly, this kind of sounds like a mess," Johnson said in the commission's monthly informal nonvoting session this week. "It's almost got a circus quality.

"Having citizens around the industrial complex is a problem, and especially when you consider the investment that the county and the city have put into our industrial partners ... it just kind of sounds out of kilter to me."

So far, Tyndall said, the Industrial Development Board has issued no public statement for, or against, the proposed rezoning.

Shea Hopkins, local vice president of Industrial Development, said after the informal commission meeting that, a meeting with Tyndall had been planned to go over the rezoning.

"What we can say is that the IDB is going to be a part of that conversation," Hopkins said.

Chris Goodman, speaking Monday on behalf of the applicant, said there will be accommodations made for various considerations during the design of the site, if it is rezoned.

Among them, Goodman said there will be no apartments built in the Spring Creek floodplain, and where there is an existing campground.

Also, he said interior roads will be built to the site, connecting to Guthrie Highway and Spring Creek Campground Road.

Another case

In one other rezoning case on the agenda this month, commissioners will consider the application of Sunikumar Arunagirl for a zone change from R-1 Single-Family Residential District to R-3 Three Family Residential District.

The site is one acre on the south frontage of U.S. Highway 41A South, 935  feet east of the Highway 41-A South and Malkowski Road intersection.

The formal request is to extend existing zoning and provide a townhome development.

Both the RPC and staff recommend approval to the county commission.

But at least a couple of commissioners have questions, if not concerns.

Commissioners David Harper and Jerry Allbert think the site has a lack of access. "Perhaps a little more planning needs to take place on it," Harper said.

County budget

Along with rezoning, the county commission will take up, and likely vote on the fiscal 2022-23 county budget Monday.

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The newly-proposed budget comes with no proposed change in the county property rate of $2.99 per $100 assessed valued, and has thus far met with little or no resistance from the full commission.

The commission will meet Monday at 6 p.m. on the historic courthouse third floor, in commission chambers.

Reach Jimmy Settle at jimmysettle@theleafchronicle.com or 931-245-0247. To support his work, sign up for a digital subscription to TheLeafChronicle.com.

This article originally appeared on Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle: In rezoning, more apartments proposed near north industrial park