Council backs Pembroke Road rental project aimed at affordable units, 10–3

Clarksville’s council approved on first reading a rezoning to allow a planned cluster of small rental homes on Pembroke Road, voting 10–3 on March 5 after extended discussion about housing needs, traffic and location.

The applicant’s team said the roughly 2.9‑acre site would host a self‑contained development of smaller, standalone rental units — described in council discussion as roughly 600–800 square feet — aimed at low‑cost long‑term rentals. Attorney Larry Ricconi said the project targets entry‑level residents, industrial‑park workers and single soldiers and estimated rents in the $600–$800 range. "It gives you a place to walk in and call your own," he said, arguing the development fills a local shortage of units in that price band.

Council members debated location and safety concerns: some representatives said Pembroke Road and nearby Pembroke and Pembroke‑area intersections are narrow and might be stressed by additional traffic. Others emphasized the city’s housing needs: a council member cited a housing assessment showing a shortfall of more than 1,000 rental units in a low‑price band and said projects at this scale help address that gap.

The developer, who described the project as rental (minimum one‑year leases) rather than short‑term, said site plans will be required for parking, stormwater and entrances and that each unit would have a single parking space and on‑site maintenance. The applicant said units would be rented and maintained by the owner rather than sold individually, and that owner‑management would provide a degree of oversight.

Council members who voted yes called the project an experiment in meeting affordable‑rental demand near employment centers; those who voted no cited placement concerns and traffic constraints. The rezoning passed on first reading (recorded 10 yes, 3 no); site‑plan and stormwater review remain to be completed before construction.

What happens next: The project requires city site‑plan approval and stormwater permitting; council discussion signaled ongoing interest in monitoring traffic and drainage implications before final approvals.

Speakers quoted in this article appear in the meeting record and include council members, the applicant’s attorney and residents who spoke during the public hearing.