By a Concerned Neighbor
Coopertown is at a crossroads. On Tuesday, September 23 at 6:00 PM at PVVFD Fire Station 5, the Board of Mayor & Aldermen will take up the first reading to rezone 48.5 acres on Highway 49 from Agricultural (AG) to Mixed Use Residential/Commercial (MURC). If you believe in keeping Coopertown rural, safe, and fiscally responsible, this is the moment to show up and speak up.
This isn’t about being “anti-growth.” It’s about smart growth—development that fits our infrastructure, our plan, and our town’s character. The informal petition gathered signatures of 186 verified Coopertown residents against the proposal. A Coopertown Times reader poll echoed the same sentiment: 90 against, 15 in favor. Different data points, same story: the community doesn’t want this rezoning. But we still need to do more to let our leaders know we do not want this development.
Why the pushback? Because the costs are real and long-term:
- Traffic & Safety: Highway 49 is already strained. More density means more risk.
- Hidden Tax Burden: High-density growth often expands service costs—roads, public safety, and schools—raising taxes, not lowering them.
- Permanent Commercial Creep: Once MURC creeps into a rural corridor, it rarely stops at one parcel.
- Broken Trust: People invested here because of zoning and character. That promise should mean something.
And let’s be honest: we’ve been here before. Just a couple of years ago, neighbors banded together to stop a similar proposal from this same developer on this same site. The message hasn’t changed—nor has the community’s resolve.
What You Can Do—Right Now
- Show up in person.
When: Tuesday, Sept 23, 6:00 PM
Where: PVVFD Fire Station 5 – Coopertown
Add your voice during the public comment period. Be brief, clear, and respectful. You have 3 minutes. - Email your elected officials today.
Take the 2 minutes to have your voice be heard. Copy/paste this subject and body into an email (include your name and address so they can verify you’re actually a Coopertown resident):
Subject: Oppose Rezoning of 48.5 Acres on HWY 49
Dear Mayor Smith and Members of the Board of Aldermen,
I am writing as a Coopertown resident to respectfully urge you to vote NO on the proposed rezoning of approximately 48.5 acres on Highway 49 from Agricultural (AG) to Mixed Use Residential/Commercial (MURC).
This proposal threatens the quiet, rural character that defines our town and would create lasting problems, including:
– Traffic & Infrastructure Strain – Highway 49 and surrounding roads cannot safely handle the added volume this development would bring.
– Higher Long-Term Costs – Experience shows that new high-density growth increases the need for public services, ultimately raising taxes for residents.
– Commercial Creep – Approving this change invites more high-density and commercial projects along the corridor, permanently altering Coopertown’s identity.
Many of us moved here for the very character this rezoning would undermine. Please protect the integrity, safety, and rural heritage of Coopertown by denying this rezoning request.
Thank you for your service to our community and for considering the voices of your constituents.
Sincerely,
[Your Full Name]
[Your Street Address]
Send to:
Mayor@coopertowntn.org
ward2alderman@coopertowntn.org
aldermanward2_1@coopertowntn.org
ward1alderman@coopertowntn.org
robertdaleanderson@yahoo.com - Bring a neighbor.
If every opponent brings one more person, the room—and the message—doubles.
Tips for Speaking at the Meeting
- Lead with your stake: “I live in ___, I drive 49 daily, I chose Coopertown for its rural character.”
- Make one or two points well: Traffic/safety, long-term costs, zoning consistency.
- Stay respectful and on time: It strengthens your credibility and our collective case.
- Ask for a clear action: “Please vote NO on rezoning the Hwy 49 parcel from AG to MURC.”
The Bottom Line
Zoning tells the story of who we are—and who we plan to be. If we allow high-density, mixed-use development to take root on Highway 49, we risk rewriting that story for good. Your presence and your email can make the difference.
Let’s protect what makes Coopertown special.
See you Tuesday at 6 PM.
