22-Unit Townhouse Complex Coming to Monteagle
by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer
At the Dec. 5 meeting, the Monteagle Planning Commission voted to conditionally approve the site plan for a 22-unit townhouse project on Moffat Street pending resolution of two ADA compliance issues and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) approval of the unique drainage strategy. The commission also approved changing minimum square foot requirements for R-2 and R-3 residences, with different standards for single family and multifamily dwellings.
Explaining the drainage strategy at the proposed Willowbreeze Townhomes site, engineer Kimberly Flood said storm water from the 1.41-acre site flowed into a detention pond with three injection wells that pumped the water into the earth facilitating reabsorption on the site. “There won’t be any runoff,” Flood stressed. “Water will never come to the top of the highest contour. We tested it up to a 25-year storm history.”
Commissioner Greg Rollins expressed concern about children falling in the pond. “It’s only two feet deep,” Flood said.
“It’s a good design,” commented resident Grant Fletcher, but noted TDEC sometimes hesitated on approving injection well drainage systems. Flood said the developers intended to seek TDEC approval as soon as the commission approved the site plan.
Commissioner Katie Trahan pointed out the law required an additional ADA compliant parking space and recommended the plan also include ADA compliant sidewalks to the building.
The site plan calls for an asphalt shingle roof and a mixture of brick, siding, and stone for the exterior surface. The attached 1,200 square foot units will have two floors, with approximately 600 square feet of living space on each floor.
The long-revisited question of minimum-square-footage for residences led to the commission setting the minimum at 800 square feet for all residences in September then rescinding that decision at the October meeting when some commissioners expressed reservations about holding apartments and condominiums to a 800 square foot minimum. The new rule sets 800 square feet as the minimum size for single family residences; for R-2 and R-3 apartments and condominiums, the minimum size is 600 square feet.