Director of Planning and Community Development Thomas E. Batchelor reviewing property plans.
JAMES WOOD
Staff Writer
Among one of the proposals discussed during the Feb. 12 Shelbyville City Council meeting was a duplex housing project proposed by Michael Drew & Courtney Clardy Engineering, LLC.
The proposed plan consisted of eight new duplex rental housing properties that would go along 933 West Jackson St. The area is around 11.15 acres near the Duck River.
A property history was reviewed for the Council by Director of Planning and Community Development Thomas E. Batchelor during the meeting before Courtney Clardy and Michael Drew presented the project.
Clardy stated that the project was intended to be an investment for her family after a long period of planning and spending on preparing the property for development, if approved by the local government.
One public commenter spoke on the issue of excessive growth in the county and particularly on Jackson St. in Shelbyville.
“I personally don’t think it blends well with the existing houses,” Chuck Glover, resident of Bedford County said. “Nor do I feel that Shelbyville needs more rental property.”
Tyson allegedly also sent a letter of opposition to the proposed property regarding the vegetative buffer between the two properties.
Councilman Bobby Turnbow questioned if the property would be expanded into the floodplain behind the property along the Duck River and the potential hazard it might pose. According to the presentation made on the property, previous applications made to the BZA have been denied on the grounds of potential issues for flood event impacts on Emergency Services.
Shelbyville Mayor Randy Carroll also voiced his concern of the liability to flooding in the property.
“We’re looking at 10, 20, 30 years down the road, who is going to take care of those people?” the Carroll asked. “The City of Shelbyville.”
St. John Engineering Civil Engineer Nathan Nelson, representing Clardy, responded to these criticisms and voiced his concerns on the judgement of the Planning Commission.
“We have to build it outside of the flood zone.” Nelson said. “Those houses would be protected for the 100-year flood event that would come through if it ever were to.”
Councilman Henry Feldhaus introduced a motion to send the proposal back to the Planning Commission for further review and litigation, citing that there could be possibilities of improvement of the plan and the studying of the Planning Commission’s conclusion on the proposal.
“I thought it ought to be returned to the Planning Commission,” Feldhaus said. “And I’ll make that motion to that effect.”
The motion was then adopted by the Council unanimously and the item was sent back to the Planning Commission.
In other matters during the meeting, City Manager Scott Collins announced that the riverwalk, a part of the larger Riverview District project along the Duck River, is going along smoothly as planned, with the City of Shelbyville speaking directly to property owners.
“Contact has been made with property owners along the proposed trail path,” Collins said. “The process is underway.”
An additional statement was given by Collins about the Animal Control situation in Shelbyville after an inquiry by Councilwoman Ewing about the animals at large in the city including loose dogs, roosters, chickens and other animals that have caused problems.
“Our City Attorney has been working with the Animal Control staff,” stated Collins. “The Deputy Chief and others. We’re getting cost estimates on what it’s going to take.”
For more information about meeting times, agendas, recordings, or other matters regarding the Shelbyville City Council, the website for the City of Shelbyville offers an archive of council activity.
Livestreams of previous meetings are available on the “Shelbyville Gov TV” YouTube channel.
Leadership Bedford meets with Mayor Carroll and members of the City Council.