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Wednesday, 04/04/07, article by
Heather Donahoe, Tennessean staff writer, Copyright © 2007
Tennessean.com
Q & A with City Commission
Candidate Anne Dunn
Age:
62
Years in Brentwood: 24
Personal: husband, John, a
grown daughter and son
Occupation: incumbent Brentwood
city commissioner and retired schoolteacher
Interesting fact: "For a hobby,
I write country music and lyrics, so if Carrie Underwood reads this,
I have a song for her. I play the guitar, ukulele and the piano, but
I can't sing a note."
Why should voters elect you?
"I have a working knowledge of how
the city operates, and I think I'm diplomatic when we have to deal
with the state, other municipalities, other commissioners and people
who come before the commission. I try to be very accessible to all
voters. I've put my home number on the city line, so people can call
me at home if I'm not there."
With build-out projected for 2016, how do you see the city's
leadership adapting to deal with the corresponding changes?
"I think if we adhere to the 2020
Plan, build-out should go as scheduled. I think we have to work with
the business community to make existing commercial areas vital, so
that we continue to have a good tax base other than property taxes
from homeowners. Maryland Farms will want to stay very current and
tempting to business to locate there, and of course, Town Center's
development is a priority."
Nearly everyone wants to preserve the city's famous "scenic
views" and green space. What fiscally responsible steps can be taken
to facilitate this?
"We have 2,500 acres of dedicated
green space and 506 acres of park land — that's 10 percent. We feel
we have preserved a good bit through the development process. Raw
land, land without sewer can be purchased, if you're lucky, for
about $100,000 an acre. We all want to preserve green space, but we
have a practical responsibility to do it in a cost-effective way."
The Town Center development hasn't yet come to fruition. Is it
a good idea? If so, how does Brentwood make it happen?
"The city created a new zoning
classification, built a road and is prepared to build a parking
garage for the development. We are certainly willing to work with
any developer or current business interested in pulling together and
creating the type of environment that was envisioned."
What, in your opinion, has been Brentwood's biggest blunder
since incorporation?
"What I consider a blunder was the
wall on Maryland Way. When the street was widened, it required a
retaining wall. We trusted computerized 3-D pictures, unfortunately,
and the wall turned out to be graffiti pink. It was a source of a
lot of humor, but we put a lot of landscaping over it, and it's
covered up now. That was a blunder, to put it delicately." |
