Clarksville planning commission recommends against rezoning 3165 Taylor Drive after large neighborhood turnout

The Clarksville Planning Commission voted Tuesday to send an unfavorable recommendation to the town council on a rezoning request for 3165 Taylor Drive, responding to dense public turnout and concerns about safety, drainage and future density.

The proposal, filed by property owner Randall Edens, seeks to rezone the roughly 4.6-acre lot from R-1 to R-3. Staff told the commission the applicant intends to convert the existing 5,656-square-foot house into a deeded three-unit townhome as phase one, and later develop additional units; staff noted that, under R-3 density rules, the site could theoretically allow about 18 units per acre (roughly 82 units), though any later development would require separate review. Edens said utilities had given a verbal indication they could accept up to 30 additional homes and that the initial conversion would be three deeded townhomes.

“Rezoning the property could be seen as responsible growth,” planning staff said in their presentation, but they also warned that Taylor Drive is a long dead-end with limited turnaround and that the TRC had flagged the need for road and fire-access improvements.

Neighborhood turnout was high. Dozens of Taylor Drive and nearby residents described a tight-knit, child-heavy street that lacks sidewalks, has limited room for two-way vehicle movement, and faces flooding and drainage concerns. Nick Gabbard, who said he helped circulate a petition, told commissioners the neighborhood opposes the rezoning because it “opens up possibilities that we don’t want” and could lead to higher-density development in the future.

Multiple residents raised similar themes: safety for children and pedestrians, inability for larger service or emergency vehicles to turn around, recent flood events on or adjacent to the site, potential increases in on-street parking and property-tax impacts, and disappointment about the timing and visibility of mailed notices and the on-site meeting sign.

A certified drainage inspector who identified himself as Jeremy Johnson told the commission the site “already does not have anywhere for the water to go” and warned that removing permeable surface area would likely increase runoff onto Taylor Drive and nearby streets.

Commission discussion focused on three recurring concerns: (1) neighborhood character and compatibility with adjacent single-family lots, (2) lack of a safe, adequate turnaround and emergency access on the dead-end street, and (3) the absence of written commitments from the applicant specifying the form and limits of any later phases. One committee member argued the record contained only a concept plan for phase two and lacked enforceable promises about future density.

The commission then moved to forward an unfavorable recommendation to the Town Council; commissioners cited neighborhood character, emergency access and insufficient detail as the principal reasons.

What happens next: The commission’s unfavorable recommendation will be transmitted to the Clarksville Town Council, which is scheduled to consider the rezoning at its next meeting. The commission’s recommendation is advisory; the council will make the final decision after its public hearing.

Commission and attribution notes: Quotes in this article are drawn from the meeting record. Speakers are identified by the names they gave at the meeting or by the role they performed during the session. The Town Council will hold its hearing on the item on Tuesday following the commission meeting.