Cookeville council sends proposed CN drive-through amendment back to planning commission after neighborhood opposition

The Cookeville City Council voted unanimously July 3 to send a proposed amendment governing drive-through restaurants in the CN (Neighborhood Commercial) zoning district back to the planning commission for further review.

Planner Chad Ward told council the amendment stems from a citizen application and detailed the history of Ordinance O18-0510 and the planning commission recommendation. Ward said the city’s CN zoning covers about 107.67 acres (18.38 acres of which is the city cemetery on Spring Street) and that the 2018 amendment had allowed drive-throughs with location requirements but did not provide for a public hearing. He said additional standards that could mitigate impacts include greater setbacks and buffers, limits on hours for drive-through windows, prohibition of amplified menu boards, and sound-control measures oriented away from residences.

The amendment’s applicant, Peggy Sims, and several nearby residents urged the council to prohibit drive-through restaurants entirely from the CN district. "I think my original request still is valid is that don't allow drive through restaurants in neighborhood commercial," Sims said during the public-comment portion. Neighbors raised concerns about late-night traffic, car horns, headlights, and odors from dumpsters and fryer grease. Susan Hogan, who said she adjoins the property under consideration, told the council, "This will ruin our neighborhood street."

Council members discussed the intent of the CN district and how conditional approvals work. Ward noted that if a proposed use meets code conditions it should be approved by the reviewing body, and that the original 2018 language limited drive-throughs to sites accessed from streets classified as major collector or higher. Several council members said they wanted to explore targeted standards to address high-volume fast-food drive-through impacts while preserving other neighborhood-serving uses such as banks and pharmacy windows.

Councilman Walker moved to amend the pending action and send the matter back to the planning commission for further consideration; the motion passed 5-0. Councilmembers and staff encouraged residents who spoke to follow up with the planning commission, which staff said is scheduled to consider the item at its July 28 meeting at 5:30 p.m.

Why it matters: The decision delays any immediate code change and directs the planning commission to consider additional standards or a complete prohibition for fast-food-style drive-throughs in CN zones. That process will include another public hearing at the planning commission level before the council acts again.