JOHN COFFELTEditor

Large 335-acre proposed development passes final readings

Ordinances needed to begin a large development planned for the McMinnville Highway, just past Interstate Drive, passed during its second readings at the Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen July 2 regarding property that was recently annexed into the city.

The multi-use development to be called Old Stone Fort Crossing is planned to include commercial areas such as an as-yet unnamed grocery store, an industrial area and residential zoning that will range from low density single family homes on a large lot to a number of apartments and townhomes.

The property was annexed into the city during the May 4 meeting. The board also passed the first reading with a 5-1 vote. Alderman Julie Anderson was the sole nay vote for rezoning the property and the related amendment to the city’s Land Use Plan. Anderson also voted no on the resolution annexing the property and accepting the plans of service for the property.

During the July 2 meeting, the matter was moved by a 3-1 vote to the end of the meeting to allow Alderman Ryan French, who was stuck in traffic, time to get to the meeting. Alderman Donnie Parsley was absent due to a reported medical condition.

For an ordinance to pass it requires a two-thirds vote by the board. With two members absent, a single nay vote would cause the reading to fail despite majority support.

Messick initially suggested postponing the vote to a later meeting, then motioned to postpone it to the end of the meeting.

“Once again we’re sitting here with four members on the board,” Messick said. “We’re dealing with probably some of the most important things that we have to deal with in the city.”

“I think everybody deserves the full board to be here to vote on it,” Messick said.

Anderson called the way the vote was handled unprofessional.

“Pulling things on and off the agenda based on the number of people who are here — the number of presumed affirmative votes doesn’t look very professional,” she said.

Messick said, “You normally assume that you will have all the people who have been elected to serve be here unless something is wrong with them.”

The first reading of the ordinance passed with a 5-1 vote during the May meeting with Anderson voting no.

Public comments during the May meeting included concerns regarding how a large development would affect traffic in the area, the density of housing in nearby neighborhood and ailing sewer infrastructure downstream from the site.

One public comment at the July meeting addressed the lack of discussion about these issues during the second reading. Another commenter noted the site was located above two chronic overflowing manholes, and due to the moratorium on new sewer taps, construction could be delayed until the problem resolved.

Developer Joe Swanson said during the meeting he was aware of the delay.

Amendments to the Manchester Planning Commission’s Land Use Plan were made to match the rezoning request during the April 15 meeting. The Commission sent a positive recommendation to the board of Mayor and Alderman for similar changes.

The development will be known as Old Stone Fort Crossing and is owned by Swanson Developments of Murfreesboro.

According to the concept plans, the site includes a commercial strip along the highway backed by a deeper portion slated for a grocery store. An approximately 26-acre area in the center of the commercial lots is planned to be zoned as I-1 Industrial. A fire station is slated for just outside the 32-acres to be used for apartments.

Plans are for the back portion of the site to have acres set aside for townhomes and more traditional subdivisions to be zoned low density.

All-together, the site is planned to have 386 residential lots, with 215 being single family detached lots and 171 townhouse lots. The number of apartment units was listed as unknown on the plans.

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting on April 2 approved three first readings rezoning part of the site in the city. The properties were originally zoned R-1 and was rezoned to R-2, R-3 and R-4.

John has been with the Manchester Times since May 2011. John has won Tennessee Press Association awards for Best News Photo and placed in numerous other categories. John is a 1994 graduate of Tullahoma High School, a graduate of Motlow State Community College and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Middle Tennessee State University. He lives in Tullahoma, enjoys painting, dancing and exploring the outdoors.