The Murfreesboro Planning Commission approved the zoning request for the 17.48-acre redevelopment of the Mercury and Parkside apartments after answering a long list of questions from a concerned neighbor.

Some design concerns were expressed about the units as to their ability to match the existing architecture in the neighborhood.

The committee heard from Margaret Butler of McCarty Holsaple McCarty Architects, who also worked on the Oakland Court redevelopment, at its July 21 meeting.

Butler and the city’s Planning Department returned to address these concerns and chose to move away from the gabled roofs which were featured as shown in an updated 3D video.

Michael Nelson, who lives near the existing units on South Highland Avenue, said he was not in favor or against the redevelopment, but wanted to know how the construction would affect homeowners like him and residents living on the property. the Murfreesboro Housing Authority. .

MHA executive director Thomas Rowe said construction would likely start in August or September next year and should be completed by December 2023.

Residents living on the property have been made aware of the changes that will take place in the coming months with three public meetings which were organized through Zoom.

Rowe said MHA will cover all costs associated with the move. Residents of Mercury Court will be temporarily relocated to the second phase units at Oakland Court. Parkside residents will then be accommodated in Mercury Court units as their homes are redeveloped. When Parkside is complete, they will be able to return home when construction begins on Mercury Court.

“Whoever lives there now will have the same opportunity to come back,” Rowe said.

Nelson also asked if traffic or domestic utilities would be affected at the time of construction for residents living on or near the property.

City Councilor Rick LaLance clarified Nelson’s concerns about traffic congestion by stating that the number of units to be replaced would match the number of units currently on the property: 46 at Parkside and 127 at Mercury Court.

Regarding service disruptions, Bill Huddleston of Huddleston-Steele Engineering, Inc. said an effort is always made to minimize this. He considers that the overhaul of the public services underway is a “great advantage for the town of Murfreesboro”.

“We have a lot of old sewers in these areas. Part is vitrified clay. We have water lines that are not big enough, ”said Huddleston. “We are doing a lot of reconstruction of the sewer and water pipes, so we are bringing good infrastructure to this area which is currently lacking.”

Commissioner Jennifer Garland, who attended her last meeting with the Planning Commission, asked about the request to reduce the required number of parking spaces at Parkside to 83. There are currently 69 spaces for approximately 58 vehicles. on the site.

Butler said the developers used the parking history data provided by the MHA and believed the numbers they provided would satisfy the number of vehicle owners who live there.

Vice President Ken Halliburton brought forward the motion to approve the zoning request with a note to determine property setbacks, which was seconded by LaLance. The motion was carried unanimously.

City Councilor Shawn Wright asked if any consideration has been given to exploring other naming options for the Mercury Court units given that Mercury Boulevard will soon become Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

Rowe said that because redevelopment plans started before talks about renaming the street took place, that was not the case.

The Planning Commission also voted to approve a right-of-way on Florence Road as well as an amended service plan for a proposed annexation study on a strip of land along the East Fork of Stones River currently leased to the city. by the US military. Corps of Engineers. Part of the property also belongs to the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

Green requested that the original service plan be changed to “reduce” annexation to the south side of the river.

One of the goals is to provide emergency services with clarity as to who should respond to incidents on city-managed property.

Project planner Margaret Ann Green said the planning department had received documentation from TDOT indicating that they did not object to the study. They have not yet received any documentation from the Corps.

“We wouldn’t move beyond advice if we don’t get the instrument we need,” Green said.

The commission decided to workshop the proposed changes to its zoning ordinance.

The city council’s public hearing on the study will take place on August 19.