Commission approves two rezoning applications and routine consent agenda items; safety concerns cited on one rezoning

The Montgomery County Board of Commissioners approved two zoning resolutions and passed a multi-item consent agenda at its March meeting.

Commissioners voted 12–8 to approve CZ-2-20-25, an application by Carolyn Jackson Hudson to rezone land from AG (agriculture) to R-1 (single-family residential). Commissioner Gillette told the commission the property has become a financial burden on the owner’s family and urged approval to let them use the property. Commissioner Burkholder opposed the rezoning vote, citing safety concerns and recent fatalities on the corridor and saying she could not support actions that would put more traffic there until highway improvements are made. The clerk tallied the vote as "12 yeses, 8 noes, 0 abstention."

The commission also approved CZ-3-20-25, an application by Leonard and Angela Carter to rezone property from R-2 (two-family residential) to C-2 (commercial). That motion passed unanimously, 20–0, with no discussion recorded.

The consent agenda passed by unanimous vote (20–0) and included multiple items: Resolution 25-3-1 (amending the fiscal year 2025 Montgomery County budget); Resolution 25-3-2 (accepting a Tennessee Volunteer Firefighting Equipment and Training Grant, $33,501—identifier 2526262 as stated in the agenda); Resolution 25-3-3 (accepting grant funds from the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance); Resolution 25-3-4 (accepting funds from the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program for FY 2024); Resolution 25-3-5 (authorizing application for a Tennessee Hospitality Recovery Fund grant for the Clarksville-Montgomery County Tourist Commission); Resolution 25-3-6 (accepting Office of Domestic Preparedness State Homeland Security Grant Program funds); Resolution 25-3-7 (authorizing agreement between Aspire Clarksville Foundation and Montgomery County for a grant involving Fredonia Park); Resolution 25-3-8 (amending an interlocal agreement to permit purchase of adjacent property via the Industrial Development Board); and approval of commission minutes dated 02/10/2025, the county clerk's report and the notary list. The clerk announced the consent agenda vote as "20 yeses, 0 noes, 0 abstentions."

All items in the consent portion of the agenda were presented as routine and eligible for single-motion approval, with the commission noting any item could be removed for separate consideration. No items were pulled from the consent agenda in this meeting.

Commission discussion prior to the CZ-2-20-25 vote included specific appeals from the applicant’s family and a public-safety rationale for opposing development until state and county corridor improvements are completed. The county highway supervisor had requested design funds for improvements to that corridor, a point mentioned in debate.