Clarksville City Council - Executive Session - October 29, 2026

The Clarksville City Council met at 4:30 PM on October 29, 2026, in City Council Chambers at 106 Public Square, Clarksville, Tennessee. The agenda was styled as an Executive Session, but the transcript reflects an open council work session. The meeting covered five first-reading zoning ordinances, the consent calendar, finance and public safety reports, and council member comments. No final roll-call votes are recorded in the transcript; several items were brought forward with committee and Regional Planning Commission (RPC) recommendations.

Consent Calendar

• The clerk read the consent agenda and no council member requested separate consideration. The transcript shows no vote before the meeting moved to the Finance Committee.
• Items included: Ordinance 11-2026-27 (second reading) amending the FY 2026-27 Clarksville Police Special Revenue Fund operating budget; Ordinance 15-2026-27 (second reading) amending purchasing and competitive bidding provisions; Resolution 28-2026-27 approving a wine sales certificate for CGS Stores LLC / Casey's #4556, 698 Tiny Town Road; Resolution 29-2026-27 approving a wine sales certificate for The Butcher Company LLC / New York Butcher Shoppe, 2670 Trenton Road; and adoption of the October 1, 2026 minutes.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public came forward during the public comment period.

Planning Commission Report - RPC Director Jeffrey Tyndall

Ordinance 19-2026-27 (Z-30-2026) - Ringgold Road R-1/R-3 to R-2A

• Proposed by Anba Kyrillos, LLC on a 1.82-acre, two-parcel tract on the eastern frontage of Ringgold Road, about 1,500 feet north of 101st Airborne Division Parkway, Ward 3. RPC staff and the Planning Commission recommended approval.
• The applicant wants to create additional single-family housing; the proposal would replace R-1 and R-3 zoning with R-2A and remove multifamily potential. Under current zoning the property could yield about 6-8 units; the applicant anticipates 5 lots, with historic estimates up to 7.
• Staff said a grading plan would improve sight distance to more than 500 feet and create one shared driveway. Councilman Streetman and Councilman Marquis asked how the property could be developed under current zoning; Councilman Brown noted the shared driveway and HOA maintenance.
• Councilman Chandler opposed the change, citing traffic congestion on Ringgold Road, nearby Wawa development, and what he called a surplus of homes, saying the Council should not keep 'stacking home after home.'

Ordinance 20-2026-27 (Z-31-2026) - Athletic Avenue C-3 to C-2

• Proposed by the Virginia James & Jason Feltner Foundation on a 6.11-acre portion of a larger tract at the southeast corner of Athletic Avenue and Dunlop Lane, Ward 11. RPC staff and Planning Commission recommended approval.
• The applicant stated C-3 does not permit a new hospital and C-2 does. The intended use is a rehabilitation hospital; the applicant has a certificate of need. A gravity sewer extension would be required. No council questions or objections were recorded.

Ordinance 21-2026-27 (Z-32-2026) - Alfred Thun Road R-1 to M-1

• Proposed by the Wilson Family Community Property Trust on a 3.45-acre parcel at the corner of Corporate Parkway Boulevard and Alfred Thun Road, Ward 11. RPC staff and Planning Commission recommended approval.
• The future land use designation is commercial/industrial hybrid; staff said an R-1 house would not be appropriate on the narrow, encumbered property. The change would allow small storage or warehouse use. A TVA tower and overhead electric lines encumber part of the site.
• RPC staff told the Council that the Planning Commission plans to initiate a related rezoning of an adjacent CEMC substation parcel from R-1 to M-1 for consistency. Councilman Lovato discussed the three legal methods to initiate rezoning and noted the Planning Commission would notify the owner and bring any objection to the public process.

Ordinance 22-2026-27 (Z-33-2026) - Fairview Lane / West Rossview Road O-1 to R-6

• Proposed by Milan Holdings, LLC on a 1.48-acre portion of a larger tract at the southwest corner of Fairview Lane and West Rossview Road, Ward 11. RPC staff and Planning Commission recommended approval; staff estimated about 18 single-family units could be developed.
• The parcel was part of a former church property; the church sold the gymnasium, now described as a business incubator called 'The Block.' The applicant wants R-6 to align with existing R-6 development across the street.
• Street Department staff said the applicant would be required to widen Fairview Lane to city, fire, and school standards, with about 22 feet as a common minimum, and off-site lift station and sewer extension work would be needed.
• Councilman Haywood raised traffic-safety concerns about the Fairview/Wilma Rudolph stop sign and the additional vehicles from 18 homes. Councilman Brown questioned the loss of the existing parking lot; RPC staff responded that it is the owner's property and the owner must solve its own parking needs. Councilman Marquis said the gym has been lightly used and parking is often empty.
• Mr. Smith (Streets Department) noted flooding on lower Trenton Road in the past and said the site could provide compensatory stormwater storage, but the city could not require additional storage beyond what new impervious surface requires. Councilman Lovato said she would not vote for the rezoning until a full layout and drainage plan is provided, and she suggested asking the applicant for that information before the next meeting.

Ordinance 23-2026-27 (Z-34-2026) - Collinwood Drive R-1 to R-2A

• Proposed by Gary Norris on a 0.57-acre wooded lot on the western frontage of Collinwood Drive, about 250 feet north of Dover Road, Ward 2. RPC staff and Planning Commission recommended approval.
• The property is currently one R-1 lot that cannot be subdivided; it is about 3,000 square feet short of a second 15,000-square-foot R-1 lot. Rezoning to R-2A would permit about 3 to 4 lots, not 5, according to staff and Councilman Lovato.
• Several council members opposed the request. Councilman Chandler said residents on Collinwood Drive had petitioned against it and he would vote no. Councilman Claunch called the density inappropriate for the mature, working-class North Clarksville neighborhood, corrected school-capacity figures to Liberty Elementary at 93%, New Providence Middle at 79%, and Northwest High at 83% (versus an RPC preferred cap of 85%), and said the homes would not be affordable at an estimated $300,000-$375,000. Councilman Holman said approving one rezone would lead to more 'chiseling away' at the neighborhood and would vote no.
• Councilman Streetman supported staff's recommendation, saying the corridor designation does not extend into the property and that three to four smaller, under-1,500-square-foot homes could serve as starter homes and infill affordable housing. Councilman Chandler and Claunch rejected that affordability argument.
• RPC Director Tyndall stated the 'run down' characterization did not come from RPC staff; the Mayor described Collinwood Drive as a beautiful street with mature trees, brick single-level homes, and large yards.

Finance Committee

• Resolution 26-2026-27 - Withdrawal from Local Option Sales Tax agreements with Montgomery County: Because Councilman Zacharias needed to leave, this item was moved to the top of the agenda. The Finance Committee had recommended disapproval. Zacharias said the measure is not a bailout and not a tax removal, argued that a 50/50 city/school split is standard in Tennessee, and cited a recent Shelbyville/Bedford County court case as precedent for a city exiting such an agreement. He said school funding would not be at risk because the county has the maintenance-of-effort obligation and the proposed joint committee would manage the transition. Councilman Lovato countered that the 1977 referendum text gave voters a direct role in allocating sales tax proceeds to schools and that unilateral withdrawal may be inappropriate. Councilman Streetman asked whether the county could sue; City Attorney Bittner said yes, and described a prior sales-tax dispute in which money was tied up and eventually settled, estimating litigation could take 18 months to two years with funds possibly escrowed. Councilman Brown asked whether the resolution means immediate withdrawal; Zacharias replied that withdrawal is intended to bring the county to the table in good faith, with the committee setting timing milestones. No council vote is recorded in the transcript.
• Resolution 25-2026-27 - TDOT SR 12 road improvement project: Finance Committee recommended approval. Street Department staff described a state safety-audit project on SR 12 from near Queens Bluff Way to near Riverwood Place, including widening, signalization at Glendale, lane additions, pavement markings, and signage. The state will make the improvements, and the city would later take ownership of the signal infrastructure.
• Resolution 27-2026-26 - Centerstone Behavioral Health Mobile Crisis Team MOU: Finance Committee recommended approval. Police Chief Birdine said Centerstone would hire about three employees to co-respond with officers to crisis calls, providing licensed therapists, reducing repeat calls, and improving efficiency; they would use office space on International Boulevard. Councilman Claunch praised the program. The Mayor said the federal grant is approximately $750,000 per year for four years.

Committee & Department Reports

• Neighborhood & Community Services: Chairman Shakeenab deferred a full report to the following week.
• Parks & Recreation: Chairman Zacharias was not present; no report was given.
• Public Safety: Chairman Lovato said she would have another full report the following week.
• Transportation-Streets-Garage: Chairman Smith was not present; no report was given.

Public Safety Committee

• Ordinance 17-2026-27 (first reading): Would adopt updated International Code Council building, gas, plumbing, residential, mechanical, pool/spa, and existing building codes. Staff said the update is required by the state and occurs about every three years. Committee recommended approval.
• Ordinance 18-2026-27 (first reading): Would adopt an updated International Fire Code and clean up permit/approval language. Committee recommended approval.
• Resolutions 22-2026-27, 23-2026-27, and 24-2026-27: Request the Building and Codes Department, Clarksville Fire Rescue, and Clarksville Police Department, respectively, to conduct internal staffing, workload, qualifications, recruitment, retention, and compensation analyses and prepare five-year improvement plans. Sponsor Lovato said these are transition reports due in February 2027. Councilman Streetman said all three department heads were supportive and the reports would inform the May budget season. Committee recommended approval.

Mayor and Council Member Comments

• Councilman Claunch highlighted progress on the Storybook Trail sidewalk from the library to Ringgold and thanked the CFO for answering constituent questions.
• Councilman Brown urged residents to vote on November 3, 2026, saying every vote matters even when many people stay home.
• Councilman Chandler apologized to residents near Cynthia Drive and Dover Road for the Council's earlier approval of a liquor store at 386 Cynthia Drive, saying the July budget crisis distracted the Council. He announced he would introduce legislation to prevent similar future approvals. He also paid tribute to former city councilman and police officer Gino Grubbs, who had recently died.

Key Outcomes

• No final roll-call votes appear in the transcript; most items received committee or RPC recommendations for future action.
• Resolution 26-2026-27 was fully discussed but not voted on in the transcript; Councilman Zacharias said he would have additional answers for the next meeting.
• Zoning cases Z-30 through Z-34 were presented as first readings with RPC staff and Planning Commission approval recommendations. Councilman Chandler and several North Clarksville council members indicated they would vote no on Z-34, and Councilman Lovato conditioned support for Z-33 on receiving a layout and drainage plan.
• The public safety committee recommended approval of the updated building/fire code ordinances and the three staffing-analysis resolutions; transition reports are expected by February 2027.
• Councilman Chandler announced forthcoming legislation regarding liquor store siting near residential areas. The Mayor adjourned with the next Council meeting expected the following week.