County Commission Votes to Rezone 67 Acres in Sewanee

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer
At its July 18 meeting, the Franklin County Commission voted to approve the University of the South’s request to rezone 67 acres in Sewanee from agricultural and general residential use to mixed-use, allowing for commercial development. Located adjacent to downtown Sewanee, the area to be rezoned includes 24 leaseholds.
Before a vote was taken, Chair Eddie Clark invited comments in support of and in opposition to the rezoning request.
University spokesperson Frank Gladu, Vice President of Administrative Services, spoke in support of rezoning.
“The University has been pursuing development of the downtown area for five years. The plan took 18 months to create,” Gladu said. “We want to expand the experience of visitors.”
The University retained Brian Wright with the Town Planning and Urban Design Collaborative to design a revisioning plan for the downtown area.
Wright addressed the commission stressing the time spent seeking input from the community and the intent to maintain the natural beauty and unique character of the town.
“We held more than 20 community meetings,” Wright said. “We don’t want Sewanee to be overrun with tourists. We want to build on the right kind of tourism, eco-tourism, while addressing housing needs, improving the economic environment, attracting potential students and creating a village that stands as a national model for sustainability. The mixed-use rezoning will allow us to implement that vision.”
John Goodson, President of the Sewanee Business Alliance, agreed.
“Sewanee businesses are struggling. We lost two restaurants in the past year,” Goodson said.
“The rezoning will allow the University to slowly progress to make Sewanee a better place,” said Goodson.
The three Sewanee leaseholders who spoke were far less enthusiastic.
Chris Colane resides on a leasehold adjacent to the area proposed for development.
“I’m not here to oppose the project,” Colane said, “but to ask the University to respect the natural environment and to be accountable to those who have homes in the neighborhood and will experience significant change.” Colane also expressed concern the Senior Citizens’ Center would be torn down before a new building was constructed.
“The University has 13,000 acres, and they’re moving to our side of the tracks,” said leaseholder Louise Irwin. “I don’t like it when they put buildings in front of buildings,” she added referring to the drawing of the proposed village area presented by Wright.
Leaseholder Lucia Dale asked, “What’s in place to support new businesses? What is going to bring businesses to Sewanee? What will drive the economic development? What we need is affordable housing. What in the plan will fulfill that need and keep housing costs down? What’s going to make this work?”
Commissioner Johnny Hughes, who represents Sewanee, asked Wright if there were plans to have a new Senior Citizens’ Center and a new Community Center in place before the buildings now housing the programs were demolished.
Wright reassured him this was the plan.
Sewanee area commissioner Helen Stapleton said in reply, “I’d like to see these promises in writing. Now it’s just words. If the promises are adhered to, it could be a good thing.”
“These questions are legitimate,” said Clark, “but they need to be taken up later with the University. Our vote tonight is only regarding rezoning.”
The commission voted unanimously to approve the rezoning request.