How do you screen a housing development proposed to be built on both sides of the Natchez Trace Parkway near Birdsong Hollow in Tennessee from motorists on the scenic route? The National Park Service doesn't have the authority to halt the development, which would be located on an area historically managed as open agricultural land. But the developers are interested in working on a screening solution, and your thoughts are welcome.
Three alternatives currently under consideration range from adding more vegetation and berms along the area in question to building a wooden fence. The Stephens Valley development will be built on the east, and eventually the west, side of the Natchez Trace Parkway near milepost 440 in Davidson and Williamson counties.
The current owners of the land on which the development will be built have a deeded easement across the Parkway lands. As such, they intend to exercise their right to construct a road underneath an existing Parkway bridge that will connect each side of the development. Although the Parkway does not have the authority to deny consideration of the easement development, the Parkway will evaluate the impacts of such construction in an upcoming environmental assessment. This assessment will be released to the public for comment.
Developers have submitted three alternative landscaping plans to the Parkway for consideration. The landscaping, if implemented, would enhance the screening of the road and development from view of travelers along the Parkway. Alternative 1 consists of planting berms and installing a stone wall adjacent to the Parkway motor road and planting an agricultural vista. Alternative 2 consists of placing a wooden fence adjacent to the Parkway motor road and planting an agricultural vista. Alternative 3 consists of only placement of a wooden fence near the Parkway motor road and natural reforestation of the vista.
Alternative 4 is the No Action Alternative, which would consist of no active screening on Parkway land; the agricultural vista would reforest naturally. A project map, visual representations of the action alternatives, and a photo exhibit of the area are available for review at this site.
Public comment is being taken through December 31.
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Comments
It has been and is our intent to not adversely impact the Natchez Trace with our development. . More importantly it is our desire to see more utilization of the Trace with our development incorporating ways for more hiking, biking, and general outdoor enjoyment along the Trace. Screening is just one part of a master plan to connect people with place.
Growth is inevitable so the question is how we grow. Stephens Valley's success will be measured on it's contribution to the quality of life for the greater Nashville community by protecting the Trace at the same time for future generations. That charge is of paramount importance to us and for what is is worth the community will benefit in our efforts to share not only our 500 acres of open space but the hundreds of acres on the Trace as people space for not only Stephens Valley residents, but the young and old alike in the greater Nashville area.