Janice Duks speaks to the Brentwood City Commission on Monday. The city's annex room was opened to accomodate the crowd.

Economic impact huge; traffic,rentors lead concerns
SUSAN LEATHERS
Brentwood Home Page

Updated 6p.m. Tuesday
SUSAN LEATHERS
Brentwood Home Page
For 30 minutes Monday night, proponents of the proposed rezoning of 7-plus acres of property on Centerview Drive that would ultimately be the site of a four-story condominium project shared their views with the Brentwood City Commission during a state-mandated public hearing.

For the next 30 minutes, opponents did the same.

The official issue: The rezoning of 7.03 acres of property located on the east side of Centerview Drive, approximately .34 miles south of the intersection with Church Street East and immediately north of Brentwood Place shopping center, from the C-2 (Commercial Retail) to the C-4 (Commercial-Town Center) zoning district.

The non-official issue: If rezoned into Town Center, Bristol Development Group has a preliminary plan and funding to build a 393-unit mixed-used condominium and retail project on the property. While the project would be funded and built as condominiums, from the start the developers have made it clear they plan to rent the individual units until the economy and housing markets are improved.

Themes were apparent throughout the hearing on both sides. Most of the proponents spoke to the need to add residential to city’s northern commercial center to make it a truly viable “town center’ district. Opponents said they did not have enough warning about the public hearing and proposal itself, and that the city was trying to build apartments under the guise of condominiums. Traffic concerns also peppered the comments.

Following is a summary of many of the remarks made:

For: Bringing residential to Town Center would help kick start what “we’ve been trying to do for the last six years,” said Realtor Paula Cirulli. A local Realtor, she added that the leased condos would serve segments of the housing market not currently served here, namely young professionals and empty nesters.

Against: Shirley Putnam, a career real estate broker who lives in Brentwood Country Club, said if built as planned today, the 393-unit Bristol at Brentwood would amount to 58 units on one acre and bring 800 vehicles a day to our roads. Her biggest concern, she said, was that the city is calling the units condos “but in actuality they will be rental apartments.” Also, “the congestion of the area … will send customers to other shopping centers.”

For: Retiree Mike Tucker said “as soon as I can convince my wife to give up her gardening habit” he looked forward to giving up his acre lot and moving into a development like the one proposed. He also said, “it’s a real shot in the arm for Town Center.” He also cited increased tax revenues and its “walkability.”

Against: Royce McClintock said after hearing all of the ‘for’ comments, it bothered him that he couldn’t disagree with much of what was said. However, he said “90 percent of the folks in Brentwood are homeowners” and that 90 percent “does not know that this is going on.” He asked the commission to “table this thing” and bring the matter to the voters by way of a referendum.

For: As president of the Brentwood Cool Springs Chamber of Commerce, Cindi Parmenter called the mixed-use project adds a “critical piece” of the puzzle needed to transform Town Center into a “vibrant” and growing area. She stated it would bring the city $2 million in fees upfront and $530,000 annually in city and county property taxes. It would have an immediate economic impact on the community. She acknowledged that growth brings challenges and the project would bring with it “growing pains” such as an impact on traffic, “We have to do that to get the desired results.”

Against: “I’m so appalled by those people who are for it. I’m a ‘gin it,” said attorney Charles Morrow, who has lived in Meadowlake 47 years. He said he understands there are demographic groups without a place to live in the city, “but to increase the congestion here that we have down here in the center of Brentwood, and I live right in the middle of it, is heck. And this commission should not add to the congestion we have already.”

For: Saying she felt strongly that each rezoning request that comes before the city should be judged on its own merits, Rachel Waterhouse said “I’m in favor of this particular rezoning.” An attorney who lives in Meadowlake, the closest subdivision to the proposed development, said she had read all of the materials available on the rezoning and Bristol’s concept plan. “Everybody needs to look at all of the details of this and I hope that you will vote on the facts.”

Against: Meadowlake resident and architect Rick Jones said that professionally he knows he should be for any development. But his biggest concern, he said, is traffic. “The proposed location on Centerview Drive is expected to have minimal impact on traffic and the surrounding business area,” he read from materials on city’s website. If it’s going to have minimal impact on the business area why are so many business people for it, he asked. He also questioned how it can have minimal impact on traffic since they are planning a garage for 758 cars.

For:  Til Bourland, president of The Parent Company on Wilson Pike Circle, said he located his company in Brentwood because he knew the property values would stay where they were. He also said he knew the Bristol group. “They do a good job and they fit the neighborhood.” On another topic, he noted that, “I’m encouraging my kids to rent, so there is a change in the works. Not everyone can buy a house.”

Against: Janice Duks, a Meadowlake resident, said she concerned about the impending redevelopment of the former Murray Ohio property and how this decision could impact what is built there. “If we open the door for apartments in this location, apartments will be in my front yard very, very soon.“ She asked a series of questions, including: “Who would want to rent an apartment next to a railroad track?”  “Are we so desperate for extra money or tax base in Brentwood right now?” “What happens if (Bristol) decides to sell? Who’s going to keep it up?”

For: “I just recently tried to move my mom to Brentwood and there was no place for her,” Ron Smith said. He said a unit like those proposed would be perfect for her.

Against: Bob Putnam told the commission that building apartments, not condos, is contrary to everything that has gone before. He asked for a delay in the final vote so that more people can learn about it. “You know damn well this developer isn’t going to stick around once it is finished.”

For: “This part of town that we’re talking about … is where we go for everything,” said Todd Kornblit, who moved to Brentwood 3 ½ years ago. We couldn’t be more for this.” Kornblit and his wife, CeCe, own Sweet CeCe’s frozen yogurt chain which has a nearby store in the Brentwood Hill Center.

Against: “Maryland Farms was in fact a farm when I moved here,” said Meadowlake resident Roger Grisham. He said the project fundamentally alters the character of Brentwood and that “we don’t know what type of people it’s going to bring.”

For: Sam Watson, who said he owns company with international interests, said his last four hires “are all six-figure earners and can’t live here in Brentwood.” He noted the Bristol group built his office condo. “I couldn’t find ask for a better buildout.”

Against: John Frame said the city seems to be “changing some of the rules” by allowing a project like this. On it being called a condominium but being presented as a rental property, he said in his 40 years in the business world, he’s learned that “when things are said to be one way and turn out being another way, that very often raises a red flat that you don’t want to raise.” He asked that it not be called one thing when it is another.

For: Jerry Cunningham, owner of City Café in Brentwood Place, opened by saying he knew he had a vested interest in this development’s success. But he added “as a resident (I’m) very excited about the whole C-4 district.”

Against: Max Merrell said if this project is approved, the city will be letting the camel get his nose under the tent” t out of the bag and that apartments will be “all over your Town Center.” But, he added, “if you want to build condos, I’m all for it.”

For: James Selleh, a Meadowlake resident, said he has two grown sons who went to Brentwood schools. “There’s no place for them to move into, for them to live (in Brentwood). Of concerns he’s heard about the development’s impact on local schools, he said one of his sons was in the largest class to ever graduate from Brentwood High, the year before Ravenwood High School opened. “The education did not suffer.

Against: Robert Dorrell said he had formerly lived in an apartment complex called The Estates at Brentwood he said were marketed to the same young professionals the Bristol says it will attract. The apartments instead were filled with local college students and the “baggage” they bring – endless parties, illegal drugs and excessive drinking.” He also added he wouldn’t be surprised if two families shared one unit and split the rent in order for their children to attend Brentwood schools without paying property taxes.

The City Commission will make its decision on the property rezoning with its second and final reading Monday, July 25, at its regularly scheduled 7 p.m. meeting. If passed, the Bristol group would then be required to present a full site plan to the city which would have to go through the planning commission for approval.