Brentwood Morning Pointe, a 73-unit assisted living and Alzheimer's unit, would be located on Wilson Pike just south of the historic Forge Seat home. If seven-plus acres of land located just north and adjacent to the Brentwood Place shopping center is rezoned into the C-4 Town Center district, the Brentwood at Centerview will be brought forward for approval.

Representatives of both projects appeared before the commission Tuesday.

Under new business, the commission first heard from Greg Vital who represented Brentwood Morning Pointe, the proposed 73-unit assisted living and Alzheimer's care facility that would be built on 8.05 acres of property on Wilson Pike if they rezoning is approved on July 25, the date of the board's second and final vote.

"It's similar to what the board considered a year ago, nine months ago," City Manager Mike Walker said. The differences, he pointed out, are that this proposal would be a smaller, one-story design, not two-story one proposed last August at the northwest corner of Wilson Pike and Crockett Road. The size, he continued, would "be consistent with a church."

In his presentation, Vital told the commissioners that with this location his company has substantially improved its plans. He also noted that the need for residential senior healthcare facilities in Brentwood continues to grow.

The discussion was quick and positive between the developer and the board. Commissioner Anne Dunn pointed out that while with a C-1 zoning "you can do all kinds of things," a special overlay that's been put on this project protects the property from being used for a grocery store or similar commercial business if it is rezoned but Brentwood Morning Pointe ultimately did not build there.

For context, Mayor Paul Webb pointed out that the facility would be about the size of the Brentwood Library.

The ordinance passed 6-0 on first reading. Commissioner Rhea Little was not present.

Town Center condos

Next up, was Ordinance 2011-06, which seeks the have the 7.03 acres of land on Centerview Drive just north of the Office Depot at Brentwood place rezoned into the C-4 Town Center district. If that is accomplished, the Bristol Investment Group would hope to start building the mixed-use project on the site in late fall.

Walker reminded the board, however, that at this time, "you are not rezoning for a specific project," but instead to bring the property into the Town Center.

"If we really want to have a Town center, you have to have people living there," he said.

David Hanchrow, representing the Bristol Investment Group, gave an overview of the condominium project, which he said is envisioned as an urban environment in which residents can live, work, shop, visit restaurants and have fun "certainly without the need for a car."

Of its density, Commissioner Jill Burgin noted, "It's going to be a jump for a lot of folks," some of whom she said had contacted her about the project's size. She added, however, that she had recently toured several of Bristol's other Nashville projects and been pleased with their layouts and finishes.

Dunn pointed out that the density of 393 units would be similar to the number of people who would work at the site if an office building were built instead.

Commissioner Regina Smithson said the project is what the board had in mind when it revised the C-4 building standards last year and opened up the possibility of extending the district's footprint.

"I can't think of any place better for this," she said.

The only major concern with the site, Walker noted, concerns water runoff. Located on the edge of the flood plain, certain requirements must be met in order to build there. The Bristol representatives outlined several possibilities they are considering, including having a water detention area under the two attached garages planned at the back of the project. The company would hope to recycle that water for landscaping purposes, they said.

Though it won overwhelmingly positive reaction, Commissioner Betsy Crossley pointed out that "this is a rezoning, and it gets many readings which is a good thing. The first reading does not mean it is approved."

Webb brought up an important aspect of the project – while the ultimate plan is to sell the units, for the time being, "these are rental units only."

Hanchrow explained he wished it "were 2006 again. We had a lot of fun selling condos then."

But he noted that the market is very soft for condos. "Doing it as a high-end rental project makes a lot of sense," he said. He said tenants will be held to very high standards."

"And when the timing is right," they will be sold as individual units.

The ordinance also passed 6-0 on first reading.

The applicants for both rezoning requests are now required to conduct community meetings with interested property owners located within 1,000 fee  of the tracts to explain the proposed rezoning and to answer any technical questions on the future developments. The community meeting for the Centerview proposal is tentatively scheduled for June 29, beginning at 6 p.m. in the Municipal Building's Annex Room. The meeting for the Wilson Pike property is tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m. June 30, also at the Municipal Building, 5211 Maryland Way.

 The Brentwood Planning Commission will discuss and make its recommendations on both projects at its July 5 meeting. Formal public hearings before the city commission for both are tentatively scheduled for its July 11 meeting with a second and final reading scheduled for July 25.