Stop the Rezoning of Parcel 065 020 on Bill Smith Road, Cookeville, Tennessee
Stop the Rezoning of Parcel 065 020 on Bill Smith Road, Cookeville, Tennessee
The Issue
Our neighborhood has expressed opposition at every public hearing regarding this proposed change. This is an argument of scope and scale of development as well as placement. We are not against affordable housing or sensible placement of developments because we can all agree that Cookeville needs more of both.
Our neighborhood is currently zoned RS-20, which is Low Density Residential. This spans from Willow to Buffalo Valley all the way to Tennessee Avenue and south of I-40. Over 200 lots have this designation except for 2 that have been changed in the last few years, both for major developers. The designation of RS-10 is nearing medium density and is not fitting for our neighborhood. This type of spot zoning is detrimental to neighborhood continuity as well as a direct threat to all the family farms on the fringes of the city limits that the city has annexed in the last two decades.
The greatest concern for our road is the safety of our neighbors and children. It is an already very heavily traveled road with numerous dangerous blind spots and curves. This proposed development could add up to 12 homes, potentially 24 vehicles, to this already congested area.
A significant environmental survey on the stability of the lot needs to be performed prior to any excavation work starting, as there is an underground stream leaching contaminants into our groundwater due to the illegal dumping materials over the last three decades. After every rain, a metallic sheen can be found at the foot of a significant landslide running directly into sinkholes of an adjacent property. Additionally, the RS-10 plat presented by the City does not account for the fill dirt that is already sloughing off and sliding onto adjacent properties. If an accurate plat were to be drawn given the necessary remediation work, such as a 3:1 slope, we believe it would point to only 5-6 homes safely being constructed on the lot. This is what the lot is currently zoned for, making this proposal unnecessary.
We have had very productive conversations with City Council members including site visits and constructive feedback to work within the constraints of the current zoning to appease all parties involved. City Council members have been receptive to our concerns and we hope that this petition will show the greater community's support of this.
This is a request for your support in opposition regarding the proposed rezoning of this parcel.
152
The Issue
Our neighborhood has expressed opposition at every public hearing regarding this proposed change. This is an argument of scope and scale of development as well as placement. We are not against affordable housing or sensible placement of developments because we can all agree that Cookeville needs more of both.
Our neighborhood is currently zoned RS-20, which is Low Density Residential. This spans from Willow to Buffalo Valley all the way to Tennessee Avenue and south of I-40. Over 200 lots have this designation except for 2 that have been changed in the last few years, both for major developers. The designation of RS-10 is nearing medium density and is not fitting for our neighborhood. This type of spot zoning is detrimental to neighborhood continuity as well as a direct threat to all the family farms on the fringes of the city limits that the city has annexed in the last two decades.
The greatest concern for our road is the safety of our neighbors and children. It is an already very heavily traveled road with numerous dangerous blind spots and curves. This proposed development could add up to 12 homes, potentially 24 vehicles, to this already congested area.
A significant environmental survey on the stability of the lot needs to be performed prior to any excavation work starting, as there is an underground stream leaching contaminants into our groundwater due to the illegal dumping materials over the last three decades. After every rain, a metallic sheen can be found at the foot of a significant landslide running directly into sinkholes of an adjacent property. Additionally, the RS-10 plat presented by the City does not account for the fill dirt that is already sloughing off and sliding onto adjacent properties. If an accurate plat were to be drawn given the necessary remediation work, such as a 3:1 slope, we believe it would point to only 5-6 homes safely being constructed on the lot. This is what the lot is currently zoned for, making this proposal unnecessary.
We have had very productive conversations with City Council members including site visits and constructive feedback to work within the constraints of the current zoning to appease all parties involved. City Council members have been receptive to our concerns and we hope that this petition will show the greater community's support of this.
This is a request for your support in opposition regarding the proposed rezoning of this parcel.
152
The Decision Makers
Supporter Voices
Petition created on July 21, 2025