Latest news with #Jouvence
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gallatin councilman expresses concern over approval of more developments
GALLATIN, Tenn. (WKRN) — As the City of Gallatin pushes ahead on another residential development, one councilman has expressed concern over the area's growth. The 'Kirkpatrick Gallatin' would build nearly 300 homes across more than 150 acres of greenspace. The development would ultimately connect to a few others that are already underway — north of Lock 4 Park and south of Nichols Lane. Gallatin councilman Pascal Jouvence was one of two council members to vote against moving the plan forward. VIDEO: Gallatin police visit local elementary school for First Responders Day 'All this area, initially, when they did 'Plan Gallatin' — the future plan to develop Gallatin — was kept rural green. After that got approved, they went back and changed it to suburban so they can build high-density on it,' Jouvence told News 2. '…Knowing what's happening in Gallatin and what we have been following for years, it's a done deal.' The 'Kirkpatrick Gallatin' has already been filed under 'recent approvals' on the City of Gallatin's website. However, a final development plan still needs to be approved by the city council. As he's done before, Jouvence has voiced his frustration with endless developments being approved by city leaders without further dialogue. 'The only greenspace we're going to have is going to be football stadiums and cemeteries,' Jouvence said. 'All the rest is going to be housing. We're on that way. We're going to be at the cliff and the point of no return, and something's going to have to be done.' Jouvence added that he isn't confident plans will slow down unless officials find 'common sense.' The city has failed to secure the state's permission to use impact fees on new developers. APRIL | 'Uphill battle': Gallatin's push to enact fees on developers shot down by state In the meantime, Jouvence said he's going to work towards amending the city's noise ordinance amid ongoing construction across Gallatin. Counting the Kirkpatrick property, the city's website shows that Gallatin now has 16 developments — almost entirely residential — with the stamp of preliminary approval. Nearly 40 other projects have been recently approved and are awaiting construction. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gallatin city leaders push for impact fee on new developers
GALLATIN, Tenn. (WKRN) — A new bill would allow a growing Sumner County city to levy impact fees on new land developers. Senate Bill 1435 was introduced last month by state Sen. Ferrell Haile (R-Gallatin) and is directed at the city of Gallatin. Among city governments, Councilman Pascal Jouvence has been looking to implement impact fees across the city since the start of his term in 2023. Former city employee suing Gallatin, some councilmembers after claiming he was forced to resign 'I don't want the people who have been living here forever, or have been living here awhile, have to pay to supplement the people who arrive in the city,' said Jouvence. In January, Gallatin's city council approved changing their city's charter to allow for impact fees on new construction. Ultimately, the decision will be made by the state. 'We need money. Money doesn't grow on trees. We have to find money somewhere to make sure our constituents are taken care of,' Jouvence told News 2. Jouvence said the funds would, ideally, help keep their city resources, like police or fire, up to par with their growth. He said there's a 'misconception' as to what impact fees would do for the local housing market. Sumner County students build beds for peers in need Citing a 2024 study from Tennessee's Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Resources (TACIR), Jouvence said impact fees have shown to have little effect on housing costs. To that point, much of Gallatin's new development is neighborhood units; high-density builds that are often near large, spaced-out residential properties. That's a problem, in Jouvence's eyes. 'We're building a small city there,' he said, pointing to a nearby development along Saint Blaise Road in Gallatin. 'And if you look at the other side [of the street], we have this issue where a lot of things that are built right now doesn't follow the character of the areas.' 'People have the right to sell their land and develop it, but their liberties should not infringe on the liberties of other people around them,' Jouvence continued. ⏩ Jouvence said the impact fee rate would be determined through a study from an outside company. Even if Gallatin is given clearance from the state to levy impact fees, it doesn't mean they will, according to Jouvence. A possible downside to impact fees is it could deter developers from investing in Gallatin and stifle their recent growth boom. The bill will go in front of the House's 'Private Acts Committee' for review on Monday, and still has several committees to get through to be approved. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
