Courthouse Revitalization Paves Way For City Streets, Sidewalks

Two repaved city streets and sidewalks on the Downtown Square will be one of the benefits coming to the Town of Woodbury from the current revitalization work being done on the Cannon County Courthouse.

Mayor Harold Patrick said Tuesday night during the monthly meeting of the Woodbury Planning Commission that paving of North Cannon and North Tatum streets has been added to the current phase of the project.

"It's in the plans to pave the two streets, and put sidewalks in front of the business district," Patrick said.

It had been thought that there would not be enough funding in the current grant to pave the streets and put new sidewalks along Cannon and Tatum.

Patrick also announced at Tuesday's meeting that it was his understanding that a new restaurant that has been in the work for months, The Scoreboard, would open for business this week.

The eatery is own by Mike and Tracey Kerwin, and is a steak and seafood restaurant. The Scoreboard is located at 114 West Main Street, the former location of Ms. Terry’s Kitchen.

"I went in there recently and it looks really nice inside,"Patrick said.

Another new restaurant may also open in town soon, Patrick informed commission members. He said he has been approached by someone wanting to open a "meat and three" and who is looking for an existing building to house the facility.

A draft amendment pertaining to street lights in new subdivisions was introduced. It requires developers to be responsible for installing street lighting in new subdivision developments. Non-decorative street lighting fixture, wattage output and spacing shall be determined by the Town Of Woodbury and the Middle Tennessee Electric Corporation. Lights will be provided at all street intersections and shall be spaced no closer than 200' apart within the development. Spacing will depend on roadway slopes, location of sidewalks and width of lanes. All electrical wiring and utilities shall comply with the local utility provider requirements. If decorative street light poles and fixtures are to be installed, a street lighting plan shall be reviewed and approved by the Planning Commission. The lighting plan shall include maintenance guidelines that are to be listed in the developments homeowner's association guidelines for light fixtures. The lighting plan along with the maintenance guidelines shall be included with the construction documents or the final plat required for the development.

Light poles shall be located within public right of way and be located two feet back from back of a sidewalk or centered between curb and sidewalk and shall be ten feet from a fire hydrant. Street lights shall be located on the sidewalk side of streets and streets with sidewalks on both sides shall require the lights to be staggered on both sides of the street.

Before the amendment can be voted on by the commission, a public hearing will have to be held for comments. One is scheduled for January 19th at 6:00 p.m. at the Woodbury City Hall. The amendment can be reviewed at City Hall. The public is invited to attend.

Another agenda item, the setting of objections and goals for the Commission for 2010, was put off until next month's meeting.

Also Tuesday night, the Town of Woodbury Board Of Zoning Appeals met for the first time since December 2008.

The main agenda item was a variance request from Alice Pinkerton who is in the process of obtaining a THDA Home Grant to construct a new home to replace her existing one at 200 East Water St. The variance regards the width of the side setbacks in a R-2 zoning district. The request is to allow six inch side setbacks instead of the required fifteen.

BZA members approved the request unanimously.

Another item included the election of chairman, vice-chairman and secretary was held.

Members voted Jimmy Barrett as chairman, Joe Hawkins, vice chairman and Sue Patrick secretary.