Murfreesboro City Council and Planning Commission will hold a joint meeting at 5 p.m. Thursday to review a Memorandum of Understanding to make road improvements to Manson Pike, Fortress Boulevard and Gresham Lane in the near future.

According to the MOU, the roads will be improved to ease traffic and perhaps make it easier to get onto Medical Center Parkway/Mason Pike.

The changes will result in a realigned Gresham Lane intersecting Manson Pike farther west of the I-24/Medical Center Parkway interchange and a traffic light.

The proposed realignment is described as follows, including a 6-foot green space, 5-foot right of way for future sidewalks and dedicated turning and transition lanes:

-From the existing Mason Pike at the Interstate 24 interchange to the existing Fortress Boulevard at the entrance of Puckett Crossing will be widened to five lanes;

- The existing Fortress Boulevard from the entrance to Puckett Crossing to Blaze Drive to five lanes;

- From the existing Gresham Lane near the east boundary of the Hale-Kirby property to the existing Mason Pike at Overall Creek to five lanes;

- From the intersection of the existing Gresham Lane and the proposed realigned Manson Pike to the proposed intersection of the existing Manson Pike and the proposed realigned Gresham Lane.

Other council agenda items including public hearings:
- Ordinance 08-OZ-39 will amend said Zoning Ordinance so as to modify the conditions of a Planned Residential Development (PRD) District off Fortress Boulevard to remove a planned walking trail, increase home size, reduce the use of vinyl, add sidewalks to both sides of the street and add two pools, playground equipment and benches.

A separate public hearing for Ordinance 08-OZ-41  will be held to zone the land as Residential Multi-Family Sixteen (RM-16) District. Map

- Ordinance 08-OA-40 will determine whether territory on East Main Street near Twin Oak Drive, which adjoins the present corporate boundaries, should be annexed by Murfreesboro and to consider a proposed Plan of Services for the area. Map

Three (3) copies of the proposed Plan of Services are on file with the Planning Director of the City of Murfreesboro in the City Hall, 111 West Vine Street, Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

All public hearing begin at 7 p.m. Speakers may address the council for three minutes, unless representing a group, then speakers are allowed five minutes.

Ordinance changes on third and final readings:
- Rewrite zoning regulations for buildings used for gatherings, including churches, schools and clubs.

The new regulations will allow for the sale of Christmas trees during the appropriate season, as well as require limitations to on-site lighting from parking lots and athletic fields. The new regulations would limit the amount of light pollution that spills into neighboring residential areas.

- On third and final reading, ordinance 08-O-36 will change the city’s zoning regulations for airport height regulations to the airport overlay district. View here.

Three copies of both the proposed ordinances are on file with the City Recorder for review by the public.

Rezonings and annexations on third and final readings:
- Annex and develop a plan of services for an area on Joe B. Jackson Parkway. Map

- Rezone more than 150 acres along Interstate 24 between Elam Road and Joe B. Jackson Parkway from Single-Family Residential Fifteen (RS-15) District and Single-Family Residential Twelve (RS-12) District to Planned Industrial Development (PID) District. Map

- Modify the conditions of a 22.8-acre Planned Unit Development (PUD) District on Covenant Boulevard, near Franklin Road, to increase the density from 12 to 16 units per acre for a total of 360 dwelling units. Map

- Rezone reading land at Memorial Boulevard and Cedar View from Single-Family Residential Fifteen (RS-15) District to Planned Commercial Development (PCD) District. Map

- Rezone land between Lascassas Pike and Old Lascassas from Single-Family Residential Fifteen (RS-15) District and Planned Commercial Development (PCD) District to Residential Multi-Family Sixteen (RM-16) District. Map

Michelle Willard can be contacted at 615-869-0816 or mwillard@murfreesboropost.com.