John Coffelt, Editor

A proposed change to the city Land Use Map that would have allowed for a lower density zoning of recently annexed property on Oakdale Street failed to pass during the Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting on Dec. 2.

In November, BOMA declined to zone the property after also failing to agree on a zoning designation in September.

A first reading of an ordinance zoning the recent Oakdale Street annex by the Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen as R-4 High Density Residential ended in the Board returning the zoning back to Planning with a recommendation of R-2 Low Density Residential.

The annex had been sent back to Planning originally after failing to be zoned by BOMA on Sept. 2. Planning then voted to send a recommendation of R-4 Residential back to the Board with a 3-3 tie decision that was broken by Planning Chair Mark Williams.

Then in November, BOMA again kicked the matter back to Planning for a recommendation to change the land use plan so that the property could be zoned R-3 medium density.

The problem Planning is facing, however, is that in the Land Use Map, the city has planned that that area should be designated R-5 high density residential for mobile homes. To change those 13 acres to medium density residential, Planning felt, would create a “donut hole” of low density in the area.

BOMA, this time, sided with the Planning Commission and rejected the change to the Land Use Plan 1-5 with Alderman James Threet offering the single yes, after the Board attempted to zone the property R-2 low density residential in November.

“They (the Planning Commission) want us to vote this down,” Threet said. “So I’m voting for it. Whatever they say, I’m voting against.”

Alderman Julie Anderson said her yes vote was so that the property could retain its county RS-1 low density zoning.

According to city codes, prior to the annexation of property, the Planning Commission shall recommend zoning districts to the Manchester City Commission, which shall assign the zoning districts by zoning ordinance within120 days after annexation.

Vice Mayor Mark Messick said Manchester has a need for affordable housing.

“I remember when starter homes were $60,000. Now they’re $250,000-300,000,” he said. “A lot of people can’t afford to buy $300,000, $400,000 houses. I don’t understand why you are opposed to it…why anyone is opposed to it.”

Alderman Donny Parsley said he opposed the zoning because of inadequate sewer and roads in the area.

“Seems like we get the cart before the horse,” Parsley said. 

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.