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Smithville council sends West Main rezoning back to planning after debate over proposed RV park
Summary
After public comment and debate about a proposed RV park next to a new school, the Smithville City Council voted unanimously to send a request to rezone two West Main parcels from R1 to C1 back to the planning commission for more information.
At a council meeting, the Smithville City Council voted unanimously to send a rezoning request for two parcels on West Main back to the planning commission after residents and the property owner debated a proposal to rezone land from R1 (low-density residential) to C1 (commercial) to allow an RV park.
Steve Castro, a West Main property owner, told the council he supports "smart growth" but opposed the full rezoning, saying, "The entrance to this ... is in flood plain as indicated by the Tennessee tax assessment website," and arguing that changing the parcel to commercial would amount to spot zoning that undermines the intent of the city's zoning rules. He also noted the parcels adjoin land purchased for a new school and raised safety concerns about short-term, transient residents near young children.
John Strode, who identified himself as a property owner on the parcels, said he purchased the land because it was already commercial and recalled, "It has been since the 1980s," arguing the city should work with the owner on development rather than oppose it.
A representative for CSR Engineering, speaking on behalf of the owner, said, "We're proposing to put an RV park on this property," and argued that several adjacent parcels are already commercial, so rezoning would align the site with neighboring uses. The representative noted that certain multi-unit or mobile-home uses would still require a site plan and planning-commission approval.
Council members discussed that the planning commission had declined the applicant's request last month. After council debate, a motion to send the rezoning request back to the planning commission for more information was moved and seconded; Miss Chandler seconded the motion. The clerk recorded a unanimous roll-call vote in favor of the referral (Jessica Higgins, Donnie Crook, Beth Chandler, Shawn Jacobs and Danny Washington each voted "yes").
Council directed staff to coordinate with Tommy Lee to attempt to place the item on next Monday's planning agenda. The council will receive any additional materials and recommendations from the planning commission before further action.
