Clarksville Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting - November 19, 2025
Clarksville Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting - November 19, 2025
The Clarksville Board of Zoning Appeals met on November 19, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at the Clarksville Administration Building. The board reviewed six agenda items, including variances, a use variance, and a special exception. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn at 8:56 p.m. The board unanimously approved the minutes of the September 24, 2025 regular session.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of minutes from September 24, 2025 regular session was moved and seconded, passed unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- For V-25-0009 (Addiction Therapy Center), multiple speakers from St. Anthony's Catholic Parish opposed the use variance. Friar John Bahn, Stephanie Tucker (principal), John Gelke (former town council member), and Tony Singleton presented arguments that the proposal failed to meet all six legal standards for a use variance, citing safety concerns for children, adverse effects on property value and school enrollment, lack of peculiar hardship, interference with the comprehensive plan, and no extraordinary need. Bill Hudson, former pastor of Return Church, spoke in support, emphasizing the church's long-standing ministry to vulnerable populations and the compatibility of the proposed use.
- For other items, no public comments were made.
Discussion Items
- V-25-0011 (Corner Lot Fence, 1745 Elmwood): Erik Ortega requested a variance for a privacy fence in the front yard of a corner lot. The existing fence had been replaced in the same footprint. Staff recommended approval with condition to complete fence waiver paperwork. The board approved unanimously.
- V-25-0012 (Lot width and landscaping, 407 Lyons Ave): Eric Merton sought variances for lot width (reduction from 40 ft to 23.68 ft) and landscaping (reduction by 50%) for two duplexes. Staff recommended approval. The board approved both variances separately, with the landscaping variance conditioned on no chain-link fence in the front yard. Unanimous.
- V-25-0013 (Front yard setback, 607 Evergreen): Joe Craig requested a variance for a covered front porch extending 12 ft from the property line (required 25 ft). Staff recommended approval. Board approved unanimously with condition that the porch does not extend further.
- V-25-0009 (Addiction Therapy Center, 435 Eastern Blvd): Brad Keith and attorney Craig Imig represented the applicant for a use variance to operate an addiction therapy and counseling center at Return Church. The operation would serve 40-80 clients (range 20-100) during weekdays 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with no medication on site and clients transported by van. Staff report noted that the proposal did not meet several criteria: likely adverse effects on adjacent property values, lack of practical difficulty, and no unnecessary hardship. After extensive public testimony and board discussion, a motion to deny was made and seconded, and the board voted unanimously to deny the use variance.
- V-25-0008 (Use Variance, G&G Excavating, 2505 Lincoln Drive): Michael Wilder requested a variance to operate an excavating company. Staff recommended approval with conditions: no storage of excavation debris on site, and all work vehicles and equipment must be screened behind a fence. Board added a condition for additional landscaping along the Discovery Trail to provide screening. The variance was approved unanimously.
- SE-25-0002 / V-25-0015 (Special Exception, Providence Place, 704-716 Providence Way): Camille Hessen presented a request for a special exception to construct a 36-unit multifamily development and a variance for a 3-foot parking setback encroachment. Staff noted that the special exception is mandatory if criteria are met, and the board found compliance. The special exception was approved unanimously, and the variance was approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- V-25-0011: Approved with condition.
- V-25-0012: Both variances approved with conditions.
- V-25-0013: Approved with condition.
- V-25-0009: Denied.
- V-25-0008: Approved with conditions.
- SE-25-0002 / V-25-0015: Special exception and variance approved.
- The board also noted that the Little Theater lighting issue has been resolved (street lights were the primary cause) and set the December meeting date to December 17, 2025 (third Wednesday).
Meeting Transcript
I guess it's better than the other self-conscious questions. I cannot hear anything else. I think I yeah, you okay for me to start? Um that that clock's a little fast. Okay. Yeah, we're going to big three. They must hold it in reserve. I was going to change that clock. It's fully number two. Yes. So I have another minute or so. Okay. Sorry. Your time. Yeah. We're going to take care of your dad. We had the kitchen redone. Neil. Yeah. We can go with that. Good evening. I'd like to call to order the November 19th meeting of the Clarksville Board of Zoning Appeals. Our first order of business is the Pledge of Allegiance. Before we go on with business today, I'm going to ask our attorney to read some of the rules of procedure. So the chairman will read the application name, location, and topic for each application, and then the staff will present case report. And the chairman uh chairwoman will call each petitioner. And when you when you approach the podium, you're required to provide your name and your address. Um the petitioner will have 20 minutes to present his or her case, and then um after that's done public comment period uh will ensue and each uh person who wishes to comment will have five minutes in which to do that. No more, no less. It's if you're in the middle of a syllable when five minutes hits, your time is up. Um that point I'll also um also mention if your comments are are redundant of previous comments. We're gonna ask you just to hold hold those. Uh and and uh chairwoman Enger Britson may may just ask you to to uh sit down if your comments are are redundant of of what has already been said. Um so uh then the petitioner will have ten minutes in which to rebut any of the uh negative comments that were presented during the public comment period, and then the board uh will will discuss the uh the application and it will conclude with a vote. So but the the key here is the time limits. Uh remonstrators, people with with comments have five minutes max to present those comments, and if they are redundant of other people's comments, you'll be asked to sit down. Okay, thank you. And the only other thing that I would point out to you is that there will be a countdown clock, and you'll be able to see how many minutes you have left. Okay. So we will begin. The first um order of business under new business is docket v 2500 one one. Eric Ortega. Sorry, do we need to uh adopt the minutes for God? I think we've all signed and seen the minutes. Is there a motion to approve? So move. Second. The second. Okay, the motion's been made and seconded. All in favor.
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