Planning Commission

MINUTES OF THE CITY OF MURFREESBORO PLANNING COMMISSION City Hall, 111 W. Vine Street, Council Chambers June 4, 2025, 6:00 PM Members Present: Staff Present: Kathy Jones, Chair Ben Newman, Dir. Of Land Mgmt. & Plan. Jami Averwater Matthew Blomeley, Asst. Planning Dir. Tristan Carroll John Tully, Assistant City Attorney Ken Halliburton, Vice-Chair Macey Woldt, Staff Attorney Reggie Harris Chad Gehrke, Airport Director Bryan Prince Ashley Fulghum, Recording Assistant Shawn Wright 1. Call to Order. Chair Kathy Jones called the meeting to order at 6:00pm. 2. Determination of a quorum. Chair Kathy Jones determined that a quorum was present. 3. Public Comments. None. 4. Approve Minutes of the May 21, 2025 Planning Commission meeting. Ms. Jami Averwater moved to approve the minutes of the May 21, 2025 Planning Commission meeting; the motion was seconded by Mr. Shawn Wright and carried by the following vote: Aye: Jami Averwater Tristan Carroll Ken Halliburton Reggie Harris Bryan Prince Shawn Wright Kathy Jones Nay: None MURFREESBORO PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES JUNE 4, 2025 5. Public Hearings and Recommendations to Council: Zoning Application [2025-407] to amend the existing PCD zoning (Dejarnette Place PCD) on approximately 23.7 acres located along DeJarnette Lane, Swanson Developments, LP applicant. Mr. Matthew Blomeley presented the Staff Comments regarding this item, a copy of which is maintained in the permanent files of the Planning Department and incorporated into these Minutes by reference. Mr. Clyde Rountree (landscape architect) and Mr. Joe Swanson III (developer) were in attendance representing the application. Mr. Rountree gave a presentation of the proposed project. Chair Kathy Jones inquired about a minimum height for the buffer zones. Mr. Blomeley responded that he believes they are required to be 6 feet in height at planting. Chair Kathy Jones opened the public hearing. 1. Mr. Mike Schlicher of 706 Middleton Lane spoke in opposition to restaurants being an allowed use. He brought up concerns over traffic and requested a berm and fence to be installed. 2. Ms. Karen Wardle of 738 Middleton Lane spoke about concerns over noise, lighting, rodents, property values, and the retention pond. She opposes restaurant, winery, and brewery uses on the property. 3. Mr. Laws Bouldin of 358 Dejarnette Lane spoke in opposition to drive-thru restaurants and 24-hour service businesses. He asked for specific hours of operation, height of buildings, minimum height of landscape buffers, and how the buffer is affected by the existing easements on the property. 4. Mr. Tom Bowen of 2622 Chase Lane spoke about concerns over lighting, noise, and traffic. 5. Mr. Bobby Fowler of 718 Middleton Lane spoke in opposition to this request and expressed concerns regarding the landscape buffer zone. 6. Mr. Danny Du with Swanson Developments at 1188 Park Avenue spoke about how office trends have influenced the applicant to request a broader range of uses. 7. Ms. Darlene Schlicher of 706 Middleton Lane spoke in opposition to this request. 8. Mr. Joe Swanson III with Swanson Developments at 1188 Park Avenue stated that they are willing to install 6- or 8-foot-tall buffer plantings and limit the types of drive-thru restaurants or remove them completely. He also stated 2 MURFREESBORO PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES JUNE 4, 2025 that the parameters in the pattern book limit the ability to build a 2-story building. 9. Mr. Austin Birch with Swanson Developments at 1188 Park Avenue spoke about the reasoning behind the request. There being no one else to speak for or against the request, Chair Kathy Jones closed the public hearing. Mr. Blomeley addressed the request for a traffic signal, as well as fencing and lighting concerns. The Commission, Staff, and applicants discussed the proposed permitted uses, building height, and buffering along lots B and D. Ms. Jami Averwater moved to approve the request subject to all staff comments and the following conditions: 1) The required buffer along the eastern boundary of areas B & D shall be a Type B buffer with a 6'-tall privacy fence in addition to the standard buffer plantings. The minimum height of all trees planted in this buffer shall be 8' at the time of planting.; 2) The required buffer and fence along the eastern boundary of areas B & D shall be designed so as not to conflict with any existing or proposed utilities or infrastructure and, if located in easements, appropriate permission from the easement holder(s) shall be secured.; 3) Drive-in restaurants and restaurants with drive-thrus shall not be permitted on areas B & D. The motion was seconded by Vice-Chair Ken Halliburton and carried by the following vote: Aye: Jami Averwater Tristan Carroll Ken Halliburton Reggie Harris Bryan Prince Shawn Wright Kathy Jones Nay: None 6. Staff Reports and Other Business: Mandatory Referral [2025-706] for the dedication of an electric easement on City- owned property located along West College Street/Old Nashville Highway, Middle Tennessee Electric applicant. Mr. Matthew Blomeley presented the Staff Comments regarding this item, a copy of which is maintained in the permanent files of the Planning Department and incorporated into these Minutes by reference. 3 MURFREESBORO PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES JUNE 4, 2025 Ms. Jami Averwater moved to approve the request subject to all staff comments, including the recommended conditions of approval from the staff report; the motion was seconded by Mr. Tristan Carroll and carried by the following vote: Aye: Jami Averwater Tristan Carroll Ken Halliburton Reggie Harris Bryan Prince Shawn Wright Kathy Jones Nay: None Mr. John Tully introduced new staff attorney, Ms. Macey Woldt. 7. Adjourn There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:19pm. _________________________ Chair _________________________ Secretary BN: af 4