Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Clarksville council rezones Popler and Palmer parcel amid resident concerns about data centers
Summary
The Clarksville City Council on June 8 adopted an ordinance rezoning a roughly 19.9-acre property at Popler and Palmer Road from R1 to C3. Residents raised questions about possible data-center uses and asked the council to meet the public for answers; the ordinance takes effect 30 days after publication.
The Clarksville City Council on June 8 approved an ordinance amending the city zoning map to rezone a roughly 19.86-acre parcel at Popler and Palmer Road from R1 to C3.
The ordinance text, read into the record by the city clerk, said a public hearing and a planning commission recommendation were held on May 28, 2026 and that the change will take effect 30 days after publication. Council voted by roll call in favor of suspending rules, advancing readings and adopting the ordinance.
The measure prompted public comment from neighbors who said they feared the rezoning could facilitate a data center or other commercial uses near residential areas. "My name is Heather Fresar. I'm a resident of Clarksville," one resident said while asking the council to consider constituent questions and community impacts; she later invited the council to a public meeting on July 13 to collect questions and information.
Resident Judy Weaver said she initially opposed the rezoning because of concerns about commercial encroachment on nearby neighborhoods but said a planner’s remark helped change her view: "I can't imagine anyone wanting to build a house across the street from the data center," she said, adding that while she remains uneasy about proximity and possible property-value effects, she would not oppose the zoning change.
Council and staff clarified that rezoning itself does not authorize specific uses such as an RV park or other special activities. City staff and the city attorney said special uses beyond what C3 permits would still require separate special-permit approvals and that construction for such uses cannot begin until the required permits and approvals are obtained. The ordinance language included an effective date of 30 days after publication.
The council recorded its votes by roll call before announcing, "Ordinance passes." The city clerk read the ordinance description as adopting the change and noted it was adopted June 8, 2026.
Next steps: the ordinance will become effective 30 days after publication; any proposal that requires a special permit would need to return to planning and zoning and the council for review.
