City approves ordinances for town houses and condos

By Ron Moses

Town houses and condominiums may soon be the newest form  of residential construction in the City of Sparta.

Following approval, on a July 3, 2019, vote by the Sparta Board of Mayor and Aldermen, room has been allowed in the Sparta Zoning Code for the addition of town homes and condominiums. The ordinances will regulate the residential zero lot line developments in both residential and commercial districts. Mayor Jeff Young said the vote is a positive one for the City of Sparta.

“What I expect is to hopefully have some new developments by this fall,” said Young. “There is a new opportunity now for condominiums, town houses and that type of stuff that we have never had before. … While the economy is good, it will really kick start our community.”

Young said there have been many developers over the past few years who have shown interest in developing the area.

“This could open the doors for them to come,” he said.

According to documents provided, the maximum number of dwelling units provided shall be computed by multiplying the gross acreage to be developed by 21. That total will exclude any area to be developed as a church, school, child care center, or for commercial use. Some uses permitted on the residential side are: Single family and two-family attached dwellings, accessory apartments, two-family dwellings and accessory buildings, such as garages, swimming pools, etc., public, private, and parochial schools, child care centers,  and recreational and community assembly facilities.

Mobile homes, storage, and long-term parking of commercial or industrial vehicles, and storage facilities are not permitted in the amended language. Yard requirements, parking requirements (at least two off-street spaces per dwelling unit), access requirements, design standards, and many other visual and logistical concerns are addressed in the language.

All plans must be reported to the planning commission and approved. Bobby Officer was the only dissenting vote on both ordinances.

In other business, the board approved a resolution to authorize the City of Sparta to participate in the “Safety Partners” matching grant program through Public Entity Partners and the local pool. Also approved was a resolution to donate to the YMCA.

The board also heard from the city department heads. Chief of Police Jeff Guth said that through half the year there have been a total of 2,876 incident reports through the 911 system, 166 arrests, and 299 offense reports, 147 citations, 147 private property accident reports, and 52 main road or TITAN (Tennessee’s Integrated Traffic Analysis Network) reports. The city is also now taking bids for a floating dock for the tourism grant project and the roof for South Carter Street garage. In addition, the board approved the placing of surplus items on GovDeals.

Frank Del Toro was approved for a beer permit for his new burger restaurant, “Frank’s Place,” on the corner of Churchill Drive and Roosevelt.

The meeting adjourned. Brad Hennessee, city administrator, and Jerry Lowery, alderman, were not present.