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Council approves Trenton Road rezoning despite neighbors' drainage concerns
Summary
The council passed first reading for a Trenton Road rezoning that would allow a mix of multifamily units and commercial frontage, after residents warned of flood and runoff risks and the developer pledged to provide engineering data before second reading.
Clarksville City Council approved first reading of Ordinance 11‑20‑25‑26 on Sept. 4, granting a developer's request to rezone four contiguous parcels fronting Trenton Road to allow R‑4 multifamily residential and C‑5 commercial uses. The ordinance passed first reading 10‑3.
Why it matters: The site sits above a basin that neighbors and a nearby property owner said already shows signs of instability and standing water. Several residents urged the council to require robust drainage guarantees before final zoning approval. The council voted to advance the rezoning but directed the developer to provide engineering documentation ahead of second reading.
Public comment focused on flood risk and runoff. William Lang, a nearby property owner, said the neighborhood’s drainage basins were at capacity and warned that large‑scale development could overwhelm them: “If you put a 123 units ... I think we gotta figure out a way for the drainage ... we will have a collapse.”
Representing the applicant, attorney Larry Ricconi said the developer has a grading permit for portions of the site and that the development team plans to “fully contain all our runoff. We're not dumping on anyone. We're not increasing anything.” Ricconi told the council he would supply the engineers’ drainage calculations and other design documents before the project returns for second reading: “I can provide all the engineering information.”
Council members split on the measure. Councilwoman Shekinah (sitting member) said she would vote no but noted she expected additional engineering information before second reading; other members said the developer’s assurances, grading permits and containment plans made them comfortable advancing the ordinance.
The ordinance passed first reading 10‑3 and will return for a second reading at a future meeting. Council members asked staff and the applicant to make the drainage and grading reports available to the council and to affected neighbors prior to that hearing.
Votes: Ordinance 11 passed first reading 10 yes, 3 no.
