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Planning Commission approves Oakhaven Drive extension





Wright

Wright

The Murfreesboro Planning Commission voted 5-2 in favor of rezoning 4.6 acres along West Northfield Boulevard and Sulphur Springs Road from a residential space to commercial space that would include an eventual extension of Oakhaven Drive.{/span}

The site plans for the property located across the street from A+ Storage Northfield Village include proposals for a gas station, commercial center, liquor store and office space. The development to be named “Sanders Corner” would come together over the course of three phases.

A different version of the plan came before the Murfreesboro City Council in 2019 and was deferred without a return date.

The project developer is also requesting that road improvements be made to increase accessibility to the site. Assistant City Engineer Michele Emerson said the changes would consist of a right-turn lane on Sulphur Springs and a left-turn lane on West Northfield into the site.

The developer is also requesting to extend Oakhaven Drive, the third street surrounding the project, to connect with nearby Sulphur Springs Road. Oakhaven, as it exists now, is a road that ends in a cul-de-sac.

This proposed change received many complaints from residents at a meeting at Bethel Church in April, according to Vice President of Site Engineering Consultants, Inc. Matt Taylor. Taylor said the extension likely wouldn’t take place until the completion of the business office in the final phase.

Oakhaven Drive resident Robert Swank voiced his concerns for how the street extension could disrupt the “quiet as a church mouse” neighborhood and increase traffic.

“It’s going to be a highway running through our neighborhood,” said Swank, who mentioned the likelihood of drivers using the road as a shortcut to get from Trinity Drive to the main stretch on West Northfield. “If they could do the project without the street, that would be fantastic.”

Councilman Rick LaLance agreed that he didn’t see the extension as a necessary component of the project because of the multiple entry and exit points already existing in the neighborhood. His said his main concern is the “walking traffic” that could come along as a result of the development.

“I just don’t think I can go along with all of the high-impact use that’s going to be there: restaurant, liquor store, gas station with a bunch of gas pumps,” said LaLance, who said he believes the plan has come about as a result of the addition of the storage facility across the street.

Project Planner Margaret Ann Green pointed out the restricted uses on the adjacent lot, where the storage units are, prohibit fuel pumps, gas stations and liquor stores.

Councilman Shawn Wright, who said he has spoken to a number of residents on the matter, agreed with LaLance on the street extension but is in favor of the development. His suggestion was to avoid creating the connection between the two roads.

Commissioner Ken Halliburton had made a motion to approve the site plan as submitted on the condition that the road extension be made only to the intersection at the rear of the office building, not creating full connectivity. That motion failed 5-2.

LaLance followed with a motion to approve the plan with the condition to eliminate the liquor store from permitted uses and add speed cushions on the proposed extension at the cost of the developer. That motion was not seconded.

Wright made the final motion to approve the plan as is with LaLance’s suggestion of adding speed cushions. Halliburton and LaLance were the only members to vote in opposition.

The proposal will be sent to city council for final approval.

The commission also unanimously approved the rezoning application for the Pointe at Raiders Campus, a 218-unit apartment complex on North Tennessee Boulevard to modify the 3 and 4-bedroom student apartments to one, two and three-bedroom units. The new unit total would be 346 with fewer bedroom and bathrooms as a result of the change, according to Project Planner Holly Smyth.

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