By Bill Short
The Millington Board of Mayor and Aldermen has unanimously passed an ordinance on first reading that would establish an “overlay” zone for the Veterans Parkway corridor. Board members took the action during their Aug. 10 regular monthly meeting on a motion offered by Alderman Thomas McGhee and seconded by Alderman Larry Dagen. The proposed ordinance is scheduled for a public hearing and final reading at the board’s Sept. 14 meeting. Charles Goforth, planning consultant for the city, said the board previously funded a study to determine the type of development it wants along Veterans Parkway. While noting that the study presented specific recommendations, he said one was to reduce the front-yard setbacks in that area. That would allow businesses to be more “urban” in scale, closer to the sidewalk, with parking to the rear and sides. Because the recommendations have never been approved, Goforth said the amending ordinance would adopt that as an overlay. It would also establish a boundary, where everything within that area could use the “lesser” front-yard setbacks. “It does carry some additional design guidelines for landscaping in this area, since that’s a very visible part of our community,” Goforth noted. “We want to try to dress that area up and make it better for development.” The amending ordinance states that the Veterans Parkway Corridor Study is a component of a Comprehensive Plan adopted by the board and the Millington Planning Commission as a guide for development within this defined area. The purpose of the overlay zone is to incorporate the study’s recommendations and provide for future “orderly and sustainable growth” within the corridor. Existing and proposed land uses would be consistent with the recommendations of the Land-Use Plan. Residential areas would contain full urban improvements, such as curbs and gutters, sidewalks and street lighting. “Clustering” of the homes would be encouraged, so natural resources could be protected and amenities provided. Mixed-use areas would be established to provide an integration of residential, professional office and limited neighborhood commercial development. Developments would be connected to surrounding neighborhoods, parks and greenways by pedestrian and vehicular systems. They would also be connected to neighborhood-scale retail, commercial, professional offices and other support services. Six specific examples of typical development, as well as proposed guidelines for the various areas within the overlay boundary, would be made a part of the amending ordinance. Requirements of the Millington Zoning Ordinance would be applicable to all portions of the corridor area. But they could be modified under the provisions of the PRD, Planned Residential District, and the MUPD, Mixed-Use Planned Development District.
There are also specific front setback modifications within the overlay zone that would apply to all properties within the corridor. They would be subject to Site Plan approval by the planning commission.
