Clarksville City Council approves zoning amendment for Fort Campbell Boulevard and Tiny Town Road

The City Council of Clarksville, Tennessee, convened on July 1, 2025, to discuss several key agenda items, primarily focusing on zoning amendments and design overlays for specific corridors in the city.

The meeting commenced with a motion to postpone a previous ordinance, which passed with a unanimous vote of 13-0. Following this, the council addressed Ordinance 112-2024-25, which proposes amendments to the city zoning ordinance. This ordinance aims to update the design overlay districts to include the Fort Campbell Boulevard and Tiny Town Road corridors. The Regional Planning Commission had previously voted in favor of this proposal, suggesting that the standards would be best implemented as part of a citywide zoning rewrite.

Councilman Zacharias raised concerns from a property owner on Tiny Town Road regarding setbacks, indicating his intention to gather more information before the second reading of the ordinance. Councilman McLaughlin presented a spreadsheet comparing existing and proposed setbacks and building heights, emphasizing that the new standards would not eliminate parking in front across all corridors.

Councilman Streetman expressed strong support for the design overlays, highlighting their importance for community standards and development. He noted that the proposal had been in discussion for several years and stressed the need for timely implementation.

Councilman Marquis acknowledged concerns raised by various department heads regarding the proposed setbacks but indicated that they believed the new standards could be workable. He reiterated his previous stance of voting against the original ordinance for consistency.

Concerns were also voiced by Councilman Brown, who highlighted potential visibility issues for law enforcement due to parking regulations and the risk of accidents with buildings set too close to the road. He indicated he would likely vote against the ordinance based on these concerns.

Councilman McLaughlin concluded by reminding the council of the appeal process available for variances and setbacks, noting that the Madison Street corridor overlay has been in place since around 2010 with similar standards.

The meeting underscored the council's ongoing efforts to refine zoning regulations while balancing community concerns and development needs. Further discussions and potential adjustments to the ordinance are expected as council members continue to gather feedback from constituents and stakeholders.