Design guidelines favored by planners

The guidelines are intended to be only recommendations to firms and individuals submitting site plans to the city and will have to be approved by the city council,

The move also designates the commission as a design review board, giving feedback to builders on site plans and taking a more active role in the process.

Over the past few months some members of the commission have expressed reservations about the guidelines, saying that the document contains too many restrictions and would drive off businesses wanting to locate in Shelbyville.

Commission member Henry Wilhoite and councilman Al Stephenson voted against the recommendation.

Wilhoite had said in June that builders were "not happy" with the guidelines, and had wanted to table the 18-page document for two years, but his motion failed. He said the guidelines would make builders pass their costs along to the homeowner.

However, chairman Morton Renegar said that he understood the concern of builders, but that certain elements of the design process "[have] to be controlled."

Commission members have agreed in previous meetings that the guidelines should not have too many restrictions, but at the same time, should encourage more green space.

Concern had also been expressed about how the guidelines were to be worded, with members pointing out that the difference between "should" and "will" could be a big issue with some who might want to build here.

The commission approved a site plan for a 16,000 square foot structure that is to be an addition to Heritage Medical Center's campus. It will contain testing facilities,

The building is slated to be built on Airport Business Park Drive adjacent to Heritage.

Last month, the commission tabled the site plan because builders were awaiting final approval for a water line from the Bedford County Utility District.

Heritage CEO Dan Buckner said in August that the hospital would use space in the building, but also added it was too early to speculate on its exact use.

A site plan amendment was approved for The Park Ridge at Shelbyville on Anthony Lane with adjustments from the state fire marshal. The three-building, 72-unit apartment complex will include a clubhouse and pool. The apartment buildings will be a little over 10,000 square feet each.

Final plat approval was denied to Robert E. Allison, who had requested approval for five lots in the Carlton Center subdivision on Frank Martin Road, consisting of 6.62 acres.

Allison wanted to subdivide his property and requested a waiver so he would not be required to put in water and sewer to all the lots in the subdivision.

Shelbyville's subdivision regulations state that the lots have to have water and sewer and the commission did not want to set a precedent.

Allison stipulated that an error had occurred concerning the property, saying that bonds were not in place on the plat when he bought the property, even though the plat stated they were, and that he wanted to subdivide the land and sell it.

The commission also recommended to the full city council to amend the city's zoning ordinance to add a new section entitled "Building Requirements in Commercial and Industrial Zones."

Some debate was raised from commission members about including horse barns and related structures in the ordinance and city manager Ed Craig said that the city council could add language to address that matter.

The new section would prohibit the use of trailers and tents in these zones. Existing structures affected by the new rules would be grandfathered in.

The commission also met as the board of zoning appeals, allowing changes in a 2006 blueprint of a parking lot at Stor-N-Lock, 1703 Green Lane.