MICHELLE WILLARD, Post Staff Writer
Posted: Friday, May 15, 2009 2:53 pm

The Reserve at Dill Lane moved forward at the city council meeting Thursday night, despite neighbor complaints.

Murfreesboro City Council unanimously approved a rezoning request on first reading for a high-end student apartment complex on Dill Lane off Mercury Boulevard.

Neighbors of the complex, proposed by Eagle Summitt Partners, are worried about storm water issues from Sinking Creek, which runs through the site area and through their backyards.

Neighbor Corinne Zorn, who lives on Venus Place, spoke out at the public hearing Thursday night and voiced concern about the creek that runs through her back yard.

She said the creek often overflows and becomes clogged with fallen trees, branches and other debris.

“Any time you change the lay of the land, like these apartments will, you have problems,” she said.

The council discussed the issue with the developer’s representative, Matt Taylor from SEC Engineering, as well as City Planning Director Joseph Aydelotte and City Engineer Chris Girffith.

Griffith said the planning department has looked into the issue. He found the area is low and holds water, but the fallen trees and debris are the landowners’ responsibility and not the city’s.

Taylor said the developers will build a storm water retention pond to slow the creek’s flow during times of rainfall and incorporate green space into the complex’s design to reduce runoff.

The proposed apartment complex will be composed of 14 three-story buildings of 260 town house-style apartments.

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