Friday Recap August 14th, 2026

My Comment

We had a pretty full slate this past week. School started and Frank Talks, the Economic Development Council and the Growth Management Roundtable met in addition to our usual County and BOMA meetings.

As I reported last week, we now have nine new County Commissioners who will be taking seats for their first meeting on September 14th. We will also have a new mayor for the first time in 20 years. During the recent campaign, infrastructure was a top priority for everyone running for office. From the discussions for Frank Talks and Growth Management Roundtable, it is clear that major change is needed both in the county and the state. Add the hospital sale, and new courthouse to the mix, and it is clear that we have our work cut out for us.

Important meeting

Tuesday, August 18th there will be a meeting at the Enrichment Center starting at 5:00 pm that is very important for the future of Williamson County. TDOT just finished a Planning and Environmental Linkage study (PEL). For the concerns that the city has with this study, read the Frank Talks report below.

Small Business Owners training

Williamson Inc. is conducting Small Business Owners training. This is a great opportunity for anyone who wants to start their own business. The course is taught on Zoom and here are the dates and subjects covered:

The course focuses on the following topics: 
September 16th - The Entrepreneurial Lifestyle (Zoom)
September 23rd - Marketing Research (Zoom)
September 30th - Business Model Design (Zoom)
October 7th - Legal Strategies (Zoom)
October 14th - Launch/Process Optimization (Zoom)
October 21st - Financial Management Cycle (Zoom)
October 28th - Reaching the Market (Zoom)
November 4th - Building the Organization and Team (Zoom)
November 11th - Graduation (In person)

Registration will close Wednesday, September the 9th. If you are interested go to Start Up Academy

Flooding

I am linking to an email that I and my fellow commissioners got yesterday. Along with traffic congestion, we are seeing an increase in flooding. This is an issue that needs to be addressed for both the county and the municipalities and clearly merits our attention to determine the cause. Flooding

Meetings this past week were:

Monday, August 10th

Frank Talks

Economic Development Council

 Tuesday, August 11th

Franklin BOMA Work session and BOMA Meeting

 Wednesday, August 12th

 Growth Management Round Table

Thursday, August 13th

Post election risk Audit

Williamson County Planning Commission

Williamson County School Board Work Session

Meetings Next Week:

Monday, August 17th

The Human Resources Committee will meet at 5:30 pm in the Executive Conference Room of the Williamson County Administrative Complex at 1320 W. main, Franklin Agenda Video Committee members: Judy Herbert (C), Jennifer Mason (VC) Greg Sanford, Tom Tunnicliffe, Bill Petty, Brian Beathard. Agenda Minutes Resolution

Williamson County School Board will meet 6:30 PM in the Auditorium at the Williamson County Administrative Building unless located on the first floor at 1320 West Main Street, FranklinAgenda

Wednesday, August 19th

The Law Enforcement/Public Safety Committee will meet at 5:30 pm in the Executive Conference Room of the Williamson County Administrative Complex at 1320 W. main, Franklin Agenda Video Committee members: Tom Tunnicliffe (C), Greg Sanford (VC), Pete Stresser, Matt Williams, Bill Petty. I am on this committee as you can see and, as of this date, I have not gotten an agenda or any resolutions that we might be considering.

Friday, August 21st

Election Commission Will meet at 1:00 pm at the Election Commission 405 Downs Blvd. Franklin. Agenda (please note in New Business #3 the correct date is November 3rd)

Enjoying Friday Recap? Take a minute now and forward it to 3 people. Copy this https://friday-recap.ghost.io/ghost/#/editor/post/680aad97ab206e0001e15b3f in your email.

The AI program I use is pretty accurate, but it does make mistakes from time to time and I don't always catch them. I provide agendas and videos/audios when I have them available and recommend that you watch the video and follow along with the summary to get the most accurate report.

One of the limitations of AI is that if a participant's name is not called out, then they are listed as participant 1, 2, etc. A limitation with audio, as opposed to video, is that one cannot always identify a person by voice alone. As imperfect as these AI summaries are, they still give a pretty good account of a meeting.

Williamson County School Board

Thursday, August 13th

Williamson County School Board Work Session Agenda Video

AI Summary

Items

• [ ] - Nominate a parent rep for the Social Studies Textbook Adoption Committee Nominate one parent representative per district for the Social Studies Textbook Adoption Committee. Email name and contact info to lydiag@wcs.edu by end of August. Meetings will be a mix of daytime and evening sessions (roughly 5–6 total); specific schedule to be provided.
• [ ] Participant 1 - Put Dr. Webb's contract extension on the September board meeting agenda Board was informed the contract expires October 5; a vote to extend must happen at the September meeting (last meeting before expiration).
• [ ] Participant 11 - Send breakdown of state vs. district funding for the special ed preschool grant Board member asked how much of the state special education preschool program is funded by the state vs. the district. She committed to send the breakdown.
• [ ] Participant 4 - Share bullying data broken down by unique students vs. repeat incidents Dr. Webb committed to sharing district-wide and school-level data on repeat vs. unique students in bullying reports, as requested by the board chair.
• [ ] Participant 4 - Bring ABA private pay policy back for second reading in September Policy is on first reading tonight; bring back for second reading in September with any tweaks identified during initial implementation with families who've already requested ABA services.
• [ ] Participant 4 - Provide follow-up on social media policy enforcement implementation Board member requested a follow-up on how social media policing is going in practice, given prior concerns about asking teachers to enforce phone use.
• [ ] Participant 4 - Present science and growth score results at September board meeting Science and growth scores are embargoed/just released; board expects a full update in September.
• [ ] Participant 8 - Send textbook adoption committee meeting schedule to board members Send board members the specific meeting schedule (dates/times) for the textbook adoption committee so they can ask nominees who have the right availability.

Overview

• Board reviewed consent agenda, superintendent's report, operations updates, and several action items ahead of the August 18th regular board meeting
• WCS has the highest combined proficiency of any district in Tennessee — 73.9% vs. state avg of 43% — with achievement gains in 16 of 23 tested areas
• Three district focus areas for 26-27: Teachers Power Progress, Every Learner Every Day, and Relationships Fuel Learning and Safety
• Digital devices and social media policy moving forward as written; board wants a follow-up on middle and high school implementation
• ABA private pay policy going to first reading Monday, then back to policy committee for second reading in September
• Board attorney selection: consensus around Mr. Jackson, with a formal recommendation and vote planned for Monday night
• Early release day moved from November 11th to November 18th; several honors CTE courses added for 26-27; sick bank trustees approved with Dr. Driggers replacing the outgoing member
• Dr. Webb's contract expires October 5th — new board must address extension at the September meeting

Digital devices and social media policy

• Policy moving forward as written — covers K–12 social media prohibition during the school day, going beyond the state law's K–5 minimum requirement
• Participant 2 wants a follow-up conversation at the next board or policy meeting on what teacher-led device use looks like at the middle and high school level
• Participant 6 raised how the district will enforce the social media prohibition when students have phones at lunch — Dr. Webb said violations will be handled the same way as other rule infractions, with phone confiscation as the consequence
• Participant 3 acknowledged enforcement will be harder than a full phone ban, but is fine with having a clear expectation in policy

Academic achievement results

• WCS received the highest combined proficiency of any district in Tennessee — 73.9% vs. a state average of 43%
• Achievement increased in 16 of 23 tested areas, with WCS ranked #1 or #2 in 3rd ELA, 3rd Math, 5th Math, 6th SS, 7th ELA, 7th Math, 7th SS, 8th ELA, 8th Math, 8th SS, Geometry, Algebra II, English II, and US History
• ELA, Math, and Social Studies proficiency all increased year-over-year — ELA at 71.8%, Math at 73.6%, Social Studies at 79.4% in 2026
• Students earned approximately 40,000 combined college credit hours through 11,739 AP exams passed and 3,261 dual enrollment semesters
• Science scores are in raw data form (released August 13th) and will be reported to the board in September; growth scores are embargoed but Dr. Webb indicated strong results

District focus areas for 26-27

• Three focus buckets for 26-27: Teachers Power Progress (emphasizing teacher quality, PLCs, and John Hattie's collective teacher efficacy research), Every Learner Every Day (differentiated instruction for all learners), and Relationships Fuel Learning and Safety (culture, bullying prevention, family engagement)
• Focus areas are driven by student performance data, college and career readiness data, bullying and behavior data, school feedback, technology guidance implementation, and PLC guiding coalition work
• 2,500 teachers went through the same professional learning this summer to prepare for the year

Bullying data and culture plans

• Total bullying complaints increased year-over-year, but confirmed bullying and harassment cases after investigation actually decreased — the board sees this as partial progress, not enough
• Participant 1 asked whether the data tracks unique students vs. repeat offenders — Dr. Webb confirmed that data exists at both the district and school level and can be shared on request
• Key culture initiatives for 26-27 include community building time (already in place across all 52 schools), a research-based review of 15 bullying prevention best practices, school counseling plans responsive to data, STARS student leadership groups at secondary schools, and consistent consequences with counseling support

Student handbooks and textbook adoption timeline

• Elementary, middle, and high student handbooks are in the board packet — they reflect the social media and device expectations from policy and will be taught at the start of the year and re-taught at the start of second semester
• Board members need to nominate one parent per district for the Social Studies Textbook Adoption Committee and email the name and contact info to Lydia Glenn (lydiag@wcs.edu) by end of August
• Committee meetings will be a mix of daytime and evening sessions — roughly 5–6 meetings total; the TLA team will share the specific schedule so board members can ask nominees who have the right availability
• Dr. Johnson suggested moving the board's textbook adoption vote from March to May or June to give teachers more review time — the TLA team said they'll take another look but the main constraint is getting materials ordered and in students' hands before the first day of school

Summer operations projects

• Grassland Middle School phase one renovation is complete — gym floor, new conference room, secure entrance, bathrooms, and flooring; Participant 10 noted photos don't capture the impact and offered tours
• Football field lighting is ahead of schedule — 3 schools still to be completed but all will be done before the first home game; baseball and softball lighting will be requested next year
• Field turf at Brentwood, Hyde, and Ollins was completed this summer
• FOB and intercom alert system rollout is in its third and final phase — all schools will have both systems before the start of next school year

Dr. Webb contract extension

• Dr. Webb's current contract runs only through October 5th, 2026 due to the 60-day post-election legal limit
• The September board meeting is the last meeting before the contract expires, so the incoming board must take up an extension at that meeting

Budget amendments

• Three budget amendments going to a vote Monday night:
  • $81,614 in carryover reserves (MTSU funds, TCAP funds, Wilco events, music funds, Australic Memorial donations)
  • $41,280 in transition grant carryover (state grant running October–September, carried into the new fiscal year)
  • $665,232 state special education preschool grant allocation
• Participant 1 asked what share of the preschool program is state-funded vs. district-funded — Participant 11 didn't have the breakdown on hand and will send it out

ABA private pay policy

• New policy (6.415) covers private pay ABA providers (licensed behavior analysts, registered behavior technicians, or licensed assistant behavior analysts) accessing schools for students with autism or developmental delays
• Policy language is drawn almost entirely from the state statute and DOE guidance issued July 10th; the two district-added elements are the use of WCS's existing release of information form and an appeals process routed to the superintendent with a 10 school-day resolution window
• Going to first reading Monday night, then back to policy committee for second reading in September — Dr. Webb wants the extra month to catch any implementation nuances as the first families begin the process this fall
• Participant 13 flagged that while the law intends this to be parent-funded, the district will likely absorb staffing costs to manage the program

Calendar change, honors courses, and sick bank trustees

• Early release day moved from November 11th to November 18th to avoid transportation conflicts with Veterans Day parades and assemblies
• 10 new honors-level CTE courses added to the 2026-27 course list tied to the Innovation Center opening — all state-approved, no additional curriculum resources needed:
  • Introduction to Aerospace, Aviation I and II, Unmanned Aircraft Systems Pilot, Principles of Engineering & Technology, Engineering Design I and II, BioSTEM I, II, and III
• Dr. Driggers approved to replace the outgoing member on the Sick Leave Bank Trustee committee; full trustee slate includes Dennis Driggers, Donna Clements, Beverly Purvis, and Sharla Bratton

Annual agenda

• Board reviewed and will vote to approve the 2026-27 annual agenda Monday night
• Participant 3 noted the superintendent contract review line item in June may not be needed this cycle but suggested leaving it since it'll be relevant in future years
• Dr. Johnson raised moving the textbook adoption vote from March to a later month — tied to the broader textbook timeline discussion above

Superintendent and district goals

• Dr. Webb kept the five goals submitted by the prior superintendent, reworded for clearer measurability with distinct deadlines, and reframed them as district goals rather than solely superintendent goals
• The five goals: (1) data dashboard for board access by June 30, 2027; (2) salary study three-year implementation plan by February 1, 2027; (3) comprehensive review of instructional and scheduling opportunities by February 1, 2027; (4) districtwide academic strategy implementation and monitoring by June 30, 2027; (5) family and community engagement process by June 30, 2027
• Dr. Johnson asked whether strategic plan goals should replace some of these — Dr. Webb wants to keep these five as the formal measured goals and bring strategic plan progress updates to the board in separate, digestible communications throughout the year

Board attorney selection

• Board interviewed two candidates; consensus is around Mr. Jackson based on his depth of experience with superintendent searches specifically
• Participant 9 (outgoing board member) urged the remaining board to get detailed information from TSBA about their superintendent search process before committing — WCS was previously the only district in Tennessee not a member of TSBA for years following a poorly handled search TSBA was involved in under prior leadership
• Participant 1 plans to recommend Monday night that the board approve negotiating with Mr. Jackson to retain him as board attorney, with a start date of September 1st

Williamson County Commission Meetings

Monday, August 10th

Economic Development Council met. So far they have not posted the video. I should have that for next week.

Wednesday, August 12th

Growth Management Roundtable Audio

AI Summary

Action Items

• [ ] - Engage County Commission on I-65 PEL unified response County Commission wants to be involved in the unified effort and push forward on I-65 corridor issues.
• [ ] Participant 1 - Draft unified written letter to TDOT Franklin to lead drafting; coordinate with Susan (former TDOT) and other jurisdictions' staff. To be submitted as public comment.
• [ ] Participant 11 - Confirm state reps (Lee, Jake, Jack) for August 18 meeting Lee confirmed; Jake and Jack also contacted. Ensure all relevant state reps know about the August 18 meeting and the upcoming TDOT meeting.
• [ ] Participant 18 - Prepare briefing framework for TDOT meeting Frame around interchange footprint and how improvements help the broader network. Coordinate with Susan and other technical staff.
• [ ] Participant 3 - Schedule meeting with TDOT and elected officials Target window of September 1–15. Bring elected officials and technical staff. Notify Eric once date is set so his team can prepare.
• [ ] Participant 3 - Find a mayor to cover the August 18 public meeting To stand in at the August 18 public meeting since he has a conflict. Professionals (Max, Jonathan, etc.) will present.
• [ ] Participant 3 - Loop in GNRC as FYI on TDOT engagement plan Keep them informed but not at the TDOT meeting table given potential adversarial dynamic with TDOT.
• [ ] Participant 8 - Reach out to neighboring counties (Davidson, Maury) about I-65 PEL Reach out to counties north (Davidson) and south (Maury) of Williamson to broaden the unified corridor voice.

Overview

• Franklin convened Williamson County jurisdictions to coordinate a unified response to TDOT's I-65 PEL study before the process moves too fast for local input to matter
• Core concern: TDOT and their consultants (Atkins as prime, Stantec doing the PEL) are moving on an aggressive schedule — first deliverable expected around October 22nd — and will default to choice lanes and outdated GNRC models if local governments don't intervene now
• Group agreed on three coordinated actions: submit a unified written letter to TDOT, show up with a consistent message at the Aug 18 public meeting, and set up a separate direct meeting with TDOT and state reps in the Sept 1–15 window
• Key asks to TDOT: study interchanges holistically (not just the I-65 mainline), include parallel arterials (431, 31), account for transit, and incorporate development pipeline data that isn't yet in adopted plans
• Participant 12 (County Commissioner Petty) raised that the County Commission hasn't been included and wants to be involved going forward

I-65 PEL study overview

• The PEL (Planning and Environmental Linkage) study runs from Thompson Lane (northern terminus) to State Route 99 / Bear Creek Pike (southern terminus) and stems from a congestion study done several years ago
• A PEL combines planning, natural environment, and social environment — including growth patterns and development impact — and is designed to accelerate later design, engineering, and construction steps
• All individual interchange projects on I-65 have been put on indefinite hold pending the PEL's recommendation
• TDOT's tentative schedule already shows the public meetings running behind where they were originally planned, and the first deliverable is expected around October 22nd

Lessons from I-24 choice lanes

• On I-24, local communities weren't engaged early enough — transit and interchange impacts were only studied retroactively after the choice lane recommendation had already been made
• The CAP (Congestion Action Plan) study that preceded the I-24 PEL didn't include Williamson County at all, and TDOT promised locally elected engagement at a transportation policy board meeting that never happened
• The I-24 outcome — choice lanes with a small carve-out allowing buses to use lanes for free — is seen as locking in infrastructure that precludes real mass transit options in the future
• Max wants to make sure the I-65 process addresses interchanges and transit up front rather than as an afterthought

Local interchange and road priorities

• Franklin's known priorities: SR-96 interchange (needs full rebuild, especially with the hospital), McEwen ramp improvements, Cool Springs Boulevard ramp improvements, and Moores Lane (benefits both Franklin and Brentwood)
• SR-96 / Murfreesboro Road interchange is flagged as a life-safety issue — a speaker timed ambulances stuck for 48 seconds to over 3 minutes at that interchange
• Spring Hill raised US-431 and US-31 as critical parallel arterials that absorb I-65 overflow and haven't been addressed in decades; a developer is coming in to do some improvements on 431 but a stretch between Spring Hill and Franklin still needs work
• The group's concern is that a concessionaire building choice lanes has no financial incentive to fund interchange or side-road improvements — those costs fall to local governments if not addressed in the PEL

Development pipeline and outdated data risk

• If local governments don't speak up, TDOT's consultants will use the existing GNRC travel demand model, which Max helped build ~2 years ago and is already out of date
• Franklin is currently running a Murfreesboro Road corridor study that's likely to include workforce and affordable housing — it hasn't gone to the planning commission yet (planned for fall) and TDOT has no visibility into it
• Brentwood is doing a similar study for Lewisburg Pike
• Jonathan stressed that development not yet in adopted plans but in the local pipeline must be communicated directly to TDOT's consultants, or it simply won't be modeled

Unified voice and TDOT engagement

• The group is aligned that each jurisdiction acting individually is less effective — multiple jurisdictions making the same ask, with state rep backing, carries more weight
• Max suggested keeping GNRC informed but not bringing them into the direct TDOT meeting, given the adversarial dynamic between GNRC and TDOT that could undermine the conversation
• Participant 16 suggested framing the unified ask around how a more comprehensive approach makes TDOT's own I-65 investments work better — not just asking for more
• Jonathan wants the ask to be specific: study the interchanges, study the arterials, and treat it as one network — not a mainline-only fix

Aug 18 public meeting participation

• The public meeting for the Williamson County area is at the Enrichment Center on August 18th
• Participant 3 (Mayor Anderson) can't attend due to a conflict and suggested another mayor introduce the technical team, then let Max or Jonathan present
• Lee Reeves confirmed attending; Jake and Jack also contacted
• The group wants elected officials at the meeting delivering the same message — not individual jurisdictions going off-script

Separate TDOT meeting with state reps

• Participant 3 volunteered to set up a direct meeting with TDOT and state reps, targeting the Sept 1–15 window
• State reps Lee, Jake, and Jack are the primary targets; the group also wants to engage the incoming governor's candidates and their forming cabinets
• Eric's team (Brentwood) offered to help draft a framework — a footprint of interchanges and arterials that need to be studied — to bring into that meeting
• The group wants to send TDOT the agenda or framing at least a week ahead so they bring the right people and aren't caught off guard
• Participant 11 suggested reconvening this group before Sept 22nd if needed, since the timeline is too tight to wait

Unified written letter to TDOT

• Franklin committed to drafting a written public comment letter and will work with Thompson Station staff on it
• Participant 11 suggested Susan (formerly of TDOT, now with Thompson Station) draft the unified communication since she knows how TDOT reads these things
• Participant 14 confirmed Susan has been a valuable resource for speaking TDOT's language directly
• The letter should reflect input from all jurisdictions — including development pipeline data each municipality contributes — and go out as a multi-jurisdiction submission

GNRC role

• Max is in contact with GNRC (texted with Michael the morning of the meeting) and thinks it's appropriate to get their input and advice
• The group agreed to keep GNRC in the loop as a support resource but not include them in the direct TDOT meeting, given the risk that the adversarial GNRC-TDOT dynamic could derail the conversation
• Participant 16 framed it as an FYI to GNRC, not a we're-going-without-you

Public comments

• Participant 20 raised flooding on US-431 over the weekend — fish were spotted on the road near the Dunn property across from Cole's Chapel, a location that has never flooded before — and connected it to increased runoff from new development
• Participant 20 also raised the broader concern that upzoning and annexation decisions are adding traffic to roads already rated F, and called for more proactive restraint on development approvals until road capacity catches up
• Commissioner Petty (Participant 12) asked that the County Commission be included in this process going forward, noting the Commission has fiduciary responsibility for the entire county and shares the same concerns

Thursday, August 13th

Williamson County Planning Commission Agenda/Packet video

AI Summary

Overview

• Terra Vista wastewater bond released — 2-year maintenance period satisfied; roads, drainage, and erosion control bonds remain open pending ongoing remediation work
• Terra Vista roads and drainage work is still incomplete — pond bottoms are the main blocker due to wet conditions; commission warned Jones Company that if work isn't done by next month, calling the bond is on the table
• All 7 planning items (Items 13–15, 20–21, 23, and the non-agenda item) were approved; key conditions include sprinkling all habitable structures at the Turner LLE, traffic signal at Horton Highway and Malachi Lane before residential access is allowed, and final plats recorded before building permits at Wylea Farms Stables
• Hardeman Springs HOA CCR amendment approval requirement declined — commission formally acknowledged it's outside their authority

Terra Vista wastewater bond release

• Commission approved releasing the wastewater collection system maintenance bond — the 2-year maintenance period has been satisfied
• Roads, drainage, and erosion control bonds remain open and were not part of this action

Terra Vista roads & drainage bond update

• Pond bottoms are the primary remaining issue — still holding water after recent heavy rain, making grading difficult; crew has been on site nearly every day for ~8 weeks
• Wastewater road has been paved but has erosion at the edges — Brent Thaney (True Land, representing Jones Company) proposed a 3-foot riprap ditch on both sides to slow water coming down the hill
• Storm pipe video inspection is on standby pending completion of pond grading
• Staff confirmed work is visibly progressing but couldn't commit to a completion date
• Participant 6 warned that if work isn't done by next month's meeting, the commission will consider calling the bond and bringing in a different contractor
• Participant 1 pushed Thaney and T-Squared engineering to stop tolerating flat pond bottoms — flat doesn't drain, and the issue will persist through the maintenance period if not fixed properly now
• Gerald Wigger spoke during public comment on behalf of 98 homeowners, citing broken curbs, fencing, irrigation, poor sod, and the deteriorating Stanley cul-de-sac, and formally requested the bonds be called

Larry Turner LLE driveway variance

• Commission approved the preliminary plat for Lot 1 of the Larry U. Turner LLE Subdivision (20.33 acres off Taliaferro Road), including a variance allowing Bo Lane's existing 12–16 ft variable-width driveway to remain below the required 16 ft
• Applicant's attorney Doug Berry (Miller Martin) argued hardship — the easement has existed since 2001, serves multiple properties, and requiring one owner to widen it at their own expense and obtain easements from others is inequitable
• Staff supported the variance given Bo Lane's age and the applicant's commitment to sprinkle all habitable structures; applicant also proposed 200 ft separation between all buildings
• Participant 6 raised a concern about a fire/rescue letter questioning whether emergency equipment could access the driveway — staff noted it was a draft copy not formally submitted for this item; commission approved regardless

Crews Runway site plan

• Commission approved the site plan for Crews Runway on 1,137.13 acres off Boy Scout Road — a private landing strip for 2 personal aircraft, no commercial use
• Facilities include a 3,000 ft paved runway, 10,000 sq ft hangar, 1,600 sq ft storage building, and 336 sq ft fuel shed
• Special use and a slope disturbance variance (slopes >25%) were both granted by the BZA in June 2026; 7 parcels will be consolidated into one via deed
• Primary runway access runs through an easement over the county landfill

Wylea Farms Stables site plan

• Commission approved the site plan for Wylea Farms – The Stables (53.70 acres off Del Rio Pike), with a key condition that final plats for both the Stables area and the Wylea Farms Common Area must be recorded before building permits are issued
• Applicant is transferring portions of the Stables (Section 1) and the Common Area (Section 2) to an outside entity to operate the club — the remainder stays HOA-owned to keep the development in compliance with open space requirements

Villages at Triune traffic signal condition

• Commission approved revised preliminary plats for both Villages at Triune West (Items 20) and Villages at Triune East (Item 21), modifying the traffic signal condition for each
  • West: final plat submission threshold raised from 25 to 54 lots
  • East: threshold raised from 25 to 30 lots; combined that's 84 lots across both phases
• No residential lots may take access to Malachi Lane until the signal at Horton Highway and Malachi Lane is installed — during this period, all site access is via Murfreesboro Road
• Chase Kerr (Krumm Engineering) explained the delay — easement negotiations with a property owner at the intersection slowed TDOT design approval; permit is expected imminently and construction starts the week of August 17, 2026
• Signal is anticipated to be operational by December 2026, well before any homes would be constructed (final plat submission precedes construction)
• Participant 6 asked whether the signal completion could be tied to December or the 54th lot, whichever comes first — Kerr couldn't commit to a hard construction deadline but confirmed December is the target

Dodd Family LLE final plat

• Commission approved the final plat for the Dodd Family Revocable Living Trust LLE Subdivision — 1 lot on 32.12 acres off Taliaferro Road
• Variance carried forward from the preliminary plat allows the existing shared driveway to remain below 16 ft wide within the 50 ft access easement

Hardeman Springs HOA CCR authority

• Commission formally declined the role of approving CCR amendments for Hardeman Springs HOA, acknowledging it's outside their authority
• The CCRs recorded with the 2019 first final plat contained a provision requiring Planning Commission approval for any amendment within the first 10 years — staff (Participant 16) flagged this as a private contract matter, not within the commission's jurisdiction
• Commission retains authority over plat amendments, drainage easements, stormwater, and other items within their jurisdiction — this action only releases the CCR amendment review role

Franklin Board of Mayor and Alderman

Monday,August 10th

Frank Talks Video

AI Summary

Overview

• Franklin Tomorrow's August 2026 Franklin Talks focused entirely on the City of Franklin's infrastructure investment — funding, active construction, design pipeline, and state advocacy
• The 10-year capital investment plan (2026–2035) totals ~$460M, funded 70% cash and 30% debt — the city holds a double triple-A bond rating
• Major active projects include New City Hall ($85M), Southeast Park ($80M, delivery 2028), McEwen Phase 4 ($45M, done 2028), Long Lane bridge over I-65 ($28.2M), and East Main Street Bridge replacement (3-year TDOT project starting this fall)
• Mack Hatcher Southeast is funded — BOMA committed $50M, TDOT matched $35M (not the hoped-for $50M) — the city is designing the full project and will either build it all or phase it depending on whether additional state funding comes through
• The I-65 PELL study has a public meeting August 18th, 5–7 PM at the Williamson County Enrichment Center — Mayor Moore and city staff want the study to go well beyond choice lanes to cover interchanges, side roads, and transit

Capital investment plan funding

• The 10-year plan (2026–2035) is funded through a mix of sources: general fund, development impact fees (city/county facilities tax, parkland dedication, road impact, water and sewer), private and utility contributions, and the hotel/motel fund (5% occupancy tax on hotel and short-term rental stays)
• Of the ~$460M plan, 70% is cash-funded and 30% is debt — Michael Walters Young emphasized debt is a tool used responsibly, not avoided
• As of June 30, 2026, the city carries $222,121,990 in general obligation bonds (maturing 2051) and $122,633,126 in revenue bonds (maturing 2053), the largest chunk of the latter being the State Revolving Fund loan for the Claude Yates water reclamation facility upgrade

Fiscal health & debt metrics

• The city holds a double triple-A bond rating — the county is triple-A and the state is triple-A
• All three financial policy metrics are running at roughly half their policy ceilings, even after the largest single general obligation borrowing in the city's history this year:
  • Total direct debt as a percent of full value: 0.61% vs. <1.75% target
  • Direct debt to operating revenues: 1.34x vs. ≤3.00x target
  • Governmental funds debt service as a percent of total governmental funds expenditures: 13.68% vs. ≤25% target

Completed projects 2020–2024

• The city completed 14 capital projects from 2020–2024, totaling $57.8M — 5 parks, 4 transportation, 4 general services, and 2 stormwater
• Bicentennial Park came in under budget and is now hosting regular community events
• The main barn at Harlandsdale Farm was renovated in 2025 — still functional as a working barn but now has a back kitchen, proper airflow, and event capability
• A bundle of 5 bridges was replaced: West Main, Pratt Lane, Spencer Creek, Bakers Bridge, and Mallory Lane
• Jordan Road in Cool Springs was brought up to city standard from Aspen Grove to Mallory, improving the cut-through from the mall area toward Franklin Road

Projects under construction

• New City Hall ($85M): crane is down, construction progressing, will include a one-acre park on the square — additional underground parking will also open downtown when it does
• Southeast Park ($80M): heavy grading underway, ~$33M spent to date, includes multi-purpose fields and LEG's Playground, delivery expected 2028
• McEwen Phase 4 ($45M, Cool Springs Blvd to Wilson Pike): largest city-only roadway project ever — relocating a major gas line, force main, and water line while dropping a hilltop 15 feet; westbound lanes built first, then eastbound; 3-year construction, done 2028; Vulcan is general contractor
• Lewisburg reconstruction ($4.1M): sidewalk, storm drainage, waterline, gas, and sewer — much of it bored under the CSX track, requiring a ~1-year road closure; Civil Constructors is the contractor
• Liberty Park ($11.6M total): replacing the old metal frame bridge with a concrete box culvert, replacing ball field irrigation; a second phase in 2028 adds pickleball courts and enhances baseball and cricket facilities
• East Main Street Bridge replacement: TDOT project, city contributed $927,000 for enhancements; construction starts this fall, 3-year project; 2 lanes of traffic maintained throughout; sidewalk open for the first 1.5 years, closed the second 1.5 years — the city has about a year and a half to work out a transit solution for the gap between downtown and the Factory; the new bridge also drops the floodplain ~2 feet, taking roughly 50 houses out of the floodplain
• Mack Hatcher at Royal Oaks (double left turn lanes): partnership with TDOT's resurfacing project; recently bid, construction starts within 30–60 days, goal is completion before asphalt plants close in late November/early December
• Mack Hatcher at Hillsboro Road ($3.9M, 100% city-funded): intersection upgrade adding through lanes in all directions; construction starts this year, completion expected spring 2027
• Long Lane bridge over I-65 ($28.2M): in right-of-way acquisition; TDOT installed the piers ~12 years ago during the I-65 widening, funding now secured to build the bridge; serves the high-growth Goose Creek area

Projects in design

• McEwen Phase 5 ($18.5M): City of Franklin and City of Brentwood partnership, Wilson Pike to Brentwood city limits, 4-lane median divided; high-pressure gas mains already upgraded; construction starts once Phase 4 is complete in 2028
• Columbia Avenue ($38M, federally and state funded): 56 right-of-way tracts being acquired, major utility relocations (~5–6 overhead utilities plus water and sewer); right-of-way completion targeted for 2027, construction 2029–2032
• Paul Holzen noted engineering is always moving the next batch of projects through design to keep the construction pipeline flowing

Mack Hatcher Southeast funding

• BOMA committed $50M to push TDOT to build Mack Hatcher Southeast — TDOT did not have it in their 10-year plan
• TDOT matched $35M rather than the proposed $50M dollar-for-dollar, leaving a funding gap
• State Rep Lee Reeves secured an additional $15M during the last General Assembly session, which partially closes the gap
• Two paths forward: design the full project and build it all if full funding comes together, or phase it — the priority in either case is upgrading the Royal Oaks and Lewisburg intersections on Mack Hatcher, which Paul says would resolve the majority of traffic issues
• The ideal outcome is taking the project all the way to Columbia Avenue (Highway 96 to Columbia Avenue — the southeast portion of the loop)
• TDOT has already started the survey, NEPA evaluation, and design, and agreed to expedite given the city's upfront funding commitment

I-65 PELL study & state advocacy

• TDOT is moving forward with the Planning, Engineering, and Linkage (PELL) study on I-65 — public meeting is August 18th, 5–7 PM at the Williamson County Enrichment Center
• City staff's position is the study must go beyond choice lanes to include: interchange improvements at Highway 96 (ramps and bridge near the hospital), ramp improvements at Goose Creek and Cool Springs Boulevard, and a serious look at transit options moving people from Franklin and Spring Hill into Nashville
• Mayor Moore noted the I-65 median could potentially accommodate light rail or similar transit and thinks the study should evaluate it
• Mayor Moore and City Administrator Eric Stuckey are coordinating with Mayor Anderson (Williamson County) and other mayors to present a unified voice to TDOT and the study consultants — a prep meeting was scheduled for the week of the Franklin Talks session
• The broader state funding picture is tight: Tennessee has ~$1.5B/year for transportation against an estimated $35–70B in statewide project needs; the city is actively lobbying state reps, the state senator, and plans to engage the incoming governor
• Participant 3 (Bev) raised that Williamson County is one of the state's top economic drivers and that framing should be used when advocating to elected officials — neglecting economic drivers hurts the state's overall fiscal position

Capital project prioritization rubric

• Engineering is building a data-driven evaluation tool to help the Board of Mayor and Aldermen rank and prioritize future capital projects, broken into four categories:
  • State of good repair: functional classification, annual average daily traffic, recurring maintenance needs, and utility upgrade opportunities
  • Safety: crash rates and severe crash rates by intersection and corridor (using ASHTOWARE), plus vulnerable road user (bike/pedestrian) accident data
  • Economic opportunity: impact on growth areas, existing businesses, and employment centers
  • Congestion management: travel time index, planning time index, and travel time reliability using INRIX cell phone data
• Projects will receive a 1–4 star data score, but the board retains authority to designate 5-star priorities — important for greenfield projects like Goose Creek Extension or Carruthers Parkway that won't score high on congestion metrics because no road exists yet
• Funding leverage (state, federal, or developer co-funding) will boost a project's score — an 80% partner-funded project should rank higher to capture the city's 20% share

Q&A

• A resident from June Lake asked whether bringing jobs closer to where people live could reduce traffic — Mayor Moore agreed modern planning favors mixed-use development and noted a state-funded road project is planned for that area
• The downtown parking study is being led by the planning department, not engineering; a committee is working through public engagement and it's not finished — Paul noted parking is tight in the core 16-block area but availability opens up beyond it
• On Moores Lane interchange (City of Brentwood): it was in TDOT's 3-year plan but has been folded into the PELL study — city staff want it included in the coordinated advocacy push
• On Mallory Lane: an adaptive signal control system is already in place; offsite improvements along Mallory Lane are being jointly funded by the city and the Cool Springs Mall as part of the mall's redevelopment
• A Franklin Tomorrow scholarship honoring Mayor Rogers Anderson for his longtime service has been established at Columbia State and is still open

Tuesday,August 11th

BOMA Work Session Agenda Video

AI Summary

Action Items

• [ ] - Evaluate expanding recycling drop-off sites to additional locations Nate's team mentioned potentially expanding cardboard/recycling drop-off sites beyond the current four locations to improve access, especially for multifamily residents.
• [ ] - Confirm exact percentage of officers receiving shift differentials Alderman Brown asked what percentage of officers receive the 7% and 10% shift differentials — Eric estimated about two-thirds on patrol. Confirm the exact breakdown.
• [ ] - Follow up with Alderman Berger on federal security technology grant opportunity Alderman Berger mentioned a potential federal/national grant program for security/protection technology. She'll follow up separately, but staff should be ready to explore it.
• [ ] - Flag tenant diversity concern to Hamilton Young — avoid duplicating nearby concepts Alderman Berger flagged that some tenant types shown as examples already have multiple locations nearby; ensure Hamilton Young screens for over-saturation of existing concepts in the immediate area.
• [ ] - Come back to BOMA if a tenant candidate requires alcohol service Alderman Berger asked to be informed if a prospective tenant needs alcohol service to be viable — bring it back to BOMA if that situation arises.
• [ ] - Discuss alcohol service restriction in tenant lease with Hamilton Young Alderman Berger raised concern about limiting alcohol service for restaurant tenants; staff to discuss with Hamilton Young whether the restriction should be relaxed or left open for case-by-case consideration.
• [ ] - Review insurance requirements in the City Hall commercial tenant lease template Review and potentially revise the insurance requirements section — current template only requires $1M/$2M general liability; consider adding umbrella, auto liability, and other standard coverages appropriate for the space.

Overview

• Franklin's police pay moves to a tiered lateral structure ($73K–$77K based on experience) replacing the flat $68K lateral rate, plus entry-level rises from $65K to $68K — total FY27 cost is $234K (salary + fringe), implementing January 2027
• With shift differential included, Franklin ranks #1 in hourly compensation across all experience tiers in the surveyed market
• A 3% compression adjustment applies to Police Officer II through Lieutenant (84 employees); 123 of 140 reviewed employees are projected to receive increases
• Franklin has 8 current openings (including 3 new budgeted positions) and is launching recruitment immediately — the current eligibility list is exhausted
• BOMA approved moving forward with the commercial tenant lease template for City Hall block, with Hamilton Young managing selection; alcohol service remains a live question the board wants revisited if a strong tenant needs it
• AV/tech contract for City Hall awarded to Diversified for $1.297M — total technology spend for the project is now projected at $2.64M, up from the $2M estimate
• Landscape services contract awarded to Colorburst ($263,933) after the prior vendor was terminated for poor performance
• Single-stream recycling contract awarded to Waste Management at ~$43/ton, down from ~$50/ton, with cardboard revenue-sharing added
• Biosolids landfill disposal contract with Waste Management at $65/ton — backup-only use; a full biosolids presentation is coming August 25th
• Transportation project scoring framework walked through with a live example; BOMA won't redo the current CIP — the new scoring process applies next cycle

Police pay structure and market position

• Franklin's updated structure replaces the flat $68K lateral rate with tiers: $73K (1–3 yrs), $75K (4–7 yrs), $77K (8+ yrs), and raises entry-level from $65K to $68K
• On base salary alone, Franklin ranks #2 of 8 at entry level, #4 of 10 for 1–3 and 4–7 year laterals, and #5 of 10 for 8+ year laterals
• Franklin's 10% night shift differential pushes total compensation to #1 hourly across all four tiers — the differential is the highest in the surveyed market at $3.27/hr equivalent, well above Brentwood's $2.30
• Alderman Baggett raised that the shift differential only applies to roughly two-thirds of patrol officers, so the base-only ranking matters for the other third
• The board noted Franklin is lower in the base rankings for experienced laterals (4–7 and 8+ years) but those officers cost significantly less to train — out-of-state officers need only a ~3-week transition class vs. ~12 weeks for entry-level recruits
• Beyond shift differential, Franklin's other compensation advantages include $1–$2/hr specialized team pay, take-home vehicles, $250/week on-call pay, a 2-hour callback guarantee at 1.5x, and $60–$70/hr special duty pay that runs through payroll and counts toward TCRS pension — most agencies pay special duty outside the compensation system

Compression adjustment and FY27 cost

• The 3% targeted adjustment covers Police Officer II, Detective, Master Patrol Officer, Sergeant, and Lieutenant — Captains and above are excluded
• Of 140 employees reviewed, 123 are projected to receive increases; 84 receive the 3% compression bump
• Total FY27 impact is $234K — $195K salary plus $39K fringe — covering the period January 1 through June 30, 2027
• Participant 3 confirmed the budget already anticipated this; the final number came in slightly below what was originally budgeted
• The team will verify no incoming officer is placed above a current officer of similar experience as part of implementation

Police recruitment and implementation

• The current eligibility list is exhausted, so recruitment launches immediately — social media teasers are already running, with a full video going out the following day (August 12th)
• Franklin currently has 8 openings, including 3 new positions budgeted July 1st; two previously expected lateral hires fell through due to family health issues and a housing situation
• The prior recruitment cycle drew over 200 applicants (close to 300); the department is targeting similar or better results
• BOMA has authorized up to 5 overhires to account for attrition during the lengthy screening process — a strategy that has worked well in both police and fire
• Chief Faulkner noted social media is the top source candidates cite for finding out about openings
• Alderman Caesar asked about the review cadence; Participant 3 said compensation is reviewed as needed, with targeted adjustments annually and a comprehensive review roughly every 3 years — the last full review was in 2025
• Lieutenant Scott Quinn and Lieutenant Joanne Wilhite supported the market research and recruitment effort respectively

City Hall commercial tenant leases

• The resolution approves a lease template and authorizes Hamilton Young to negotiate with tenants, with the city administrator informing BOMA of selected tenants before any lease is executed
• Hamilton Young was selected over at least 2 other firms based on their downtown Franklin experience; roughly 15 letters of interest have already come in from potential tenants
• Alderman Baggett flagged the insurance section as likely below market — the template requires only $1M/$2M general liability and he thinks an umbrella and auto liability should be added
• Multiple board members pushed back on the restriction against alcohol service, arguing it limits viable restaurant tenants — Alderman Berger and Alderman Blatton both noted that no restaurant on Main Street operates without some form of beverage service, and that tight margins make a full three-meal offering nearly impossible without it
• Participant 3 said the restriction was driven by liability concerns as the property owner, but noted strong interest so far even with it in place; the board's direction is to bring it back if a strong tenant needs it
• Alderman Berger and Vice Mayor Baggett both want tenants to be locally oriented — not chains — and want to avoid duplicating concepts already well-represented within a few blocks
• Timeline: marketing and negotiation through fall 2026, lease execution in late fall/winter, tenant improvements in early 2027, target opening in coordination with City Hall

City Hall AV/tech contract

• Contract with Diversified for $1,297,428 covers audio, video, and other technology equipment for the City Hall block redevelopment
• Total projected technology spend for the project is $2.64M, up from the original $2M estimate — the gap is attributed to escalating costs and the fact that the full tech design wasn't complete when the initial projection was made
• Security cameras (~$120K) are the one remaining purchase not covered by this contract but included in the $2.64M total
• Equipment is being purchased through a cooperative agreement to reduce costs vs. open market
• Alderman Berger asked about security-related grants; Participant 3 noted a cybersecurity grant was just authorized for payment but wouldn't apply to physical infrastructure — the team will continue looking for opportunities

Landscape services contract

• Contract awarded to Colorburst for $263,933 after the prior vendor was terminated for repeated poor performance and property damage
• Participant 9 said the prior vendor's own representative wasn't surprised by the termination — Colorburst has already started cleanup at the police department

Single-stream recycling contract

• Contract with Waste Management Recycle America for single-stream recycling processing — initial 3-year term with two 1-year renewal options (max 5 years)
• Rate drops from ~$50/ton to ~$43/ton, and the new agreement includes a revenue-sharing arrangement on cardboard sales
• Drop-off sites are currently collecting across all 4 wards: Jim Warren Park, Fieldstone Park, and fire stations at Liberty Park and West Haven, plus Cool Springs Fire Station
• Vice Mayor Baggett raised the volume of residential cardboard as a significant untapped revenue opportunity; Participant 15 confirmed cardboard has the highest commodity value in the waste stream
• Participant 15 noted a prior waste audit found organics made up over 50% of the waste stream — the team is working to divert those out
• Alderman Caesar asked about multifamily units that can't use blue bins; Participant 15 said they're looking at ways to expand access, and expanding drop-off sites is one option being considered

Biosolids landfill disposal contract

• Contract with Waste Management of Tennessee for landfill disposal of biosolids — 3-year term with two 1-year options, at $65/ton (up from $29/ton when Participant 17 joined the city 13 years ago)
• This is a backup-only contract for when biosolids equipment is offline for maintenance or power outages — day-to-day volume going to the landfill is now minimal since the city brought its own solids processing online
• Waste Management was the sole bidder
• A full presentation on the potential beneficial reuse of biosolids is scheduled for the August 25th meeting

Transportation project scoring

• Paul walked through the proposed scoring framework using East McEwen Phase 5 as a live example — 5 categories: State of Good Repair, Roadway Safety, Economic Opportunity, Congestion Management, and Project Readiness
• The pairwise comparison assigns weighted percentages to each category based on board input — Paul and Jonathan Marston ran it independently and came out fairly close, with roadway safety ranking highest for both
• Alderman Brown noted roadway safety feels like table stakes and questioned whether it would always be ranked first by default, making the real differentiation among the other four categories
• Vice Mayor Baggett raised that new roads (e.g., Goose Creek Bypass, Maccatcher Southwest) score zero in several categories by nature, so BOMA judgment will still be needed for those
• This framework applies to the next CIP cycle — it won't reopen the projects already prioritized; the board will still make final calls on "five-star" projects
• Next steps when ready: BOMA completes pairwise comparison, staff issues a call for projects, staff scores over ~2 months, then presents back for BOMA prioritization

BOMA Meeting Agenda Video

AI Summary

Overview

• Alan Sims raised a procedural concern about vested rights extensions being approved without applicant presence or public explanation — no board action taken, but the comment is on record
• Bassett PUD (230 units, 7.031 acres at Goose Creek Bypass and I-65) passed rezoning unanimously and development plan 6–2, with Alderman Potts and Vice Mayor Baggett voting no over massing and gateway concerns; a deferral motion failed 6–2 first
• Both Franklin Housing Authority developments — Denson Place (97 units, 5.14 acres) and Iris Place (144 units, 7.68 acres) — passed unanimously with all modifications of standards approved; Denson Place was amended to require the 6:12 roof pitch design
• Clovercroft Road annexation (22.78 acres, 5 parcels) and Poplars Reserve PUD (41 lots) both passed 7–1 (Vice Mayor Baggett voting no); Poplars Reserve approved with 3 MOSs and 2 conditions of approval — 50 ft setback from Clovercroft and turn lane required before first CO
• Board reappointed 4 ethics commission members, appointed 1 new member (Aaron Housel, ethics officer at Nissan North America), appointed Victoria McCoy to Development Services Advisory Commission, and appointed 3 members to the Civil War History Commission
• In executive session, the board voted unanimously to reject a $58,000 settlement offer in City of Franklin v. Ellen Octavia Stokes Dunivan et al.

Citizen comment on vested rights

• Alan Sims (119 Lewisburg Avenue) raised concern that the board routinely approves vested rights extensions without requiring applicants to appear, explain the delay, or present a revised timeline
• He cited the Middleway PUD extension as a specific example — the applicant didn't attend either the April 14 work session or the May 12 BOMA meeting, yet the extension was approved unanimously both times
• Sims suggested that at minimum, applicants should be required to appear before the board, explain why they missed their deadline, and present an updated project timeline

I-65 corridor study meetings

• Participant 4 flagged a Tennessee environmental linkage study covering ~34 miles of I-65 from Thompson Lane (SR-155) in Davidson County to Bear Creek Pike in Maury County, with three public input meetings:
  • Monday, August 17 — Woodmont Hills Church, Nashville, 5–7 PM
  • Wednesday, August 13 — Spring Hill Event Center, 5–7 PM
  • Tuesday, August 18 — Williamson County Enrichment Center, Franklin, 5–7 PM
• The study focuses on congestion, travel time, transit integration, and land use — Participant 4 wants the scope broad enough to cover interchange improvements and projected land use, not just choice lanes
• A growth management roundtable (mayors, managers, planning staff) was meeting the following morning at 10 AM at the County Complex to coordinate input; more info and written comments at buildwithustn.com

Bassett PUD rezoning and development plan

• The board approved rezoning 7.031 acres at 2408–2412 Goose Creek Bypass from RC-12 to PD 32.7 unanimously — site is north of Goose Creek Bypass, west of I-65, within the regional commerce design concept with a special consideration allowing standalone multifamily up to 6 stories
• Applicant Greg Gamble (Kimley-Horn) presented revised architecture developed after feedback at the joint conceptual workshop — changes included varied massing, differentiated parapet heights, more brick, board and batten and hardy board panels, balconies, and a pedestrian courtyard plaza, all drawing from Berry Farms materials and design language
• The development plan for 230 multifamily units passed 6–2 (Alderman Potts and Vice Mayor Baggett voting no) after a deferral motion also failed 6–2
• The one MOS — reducing the 18-inch foundation requirement to grade level along street-facing facades for ADA accessibility — passed unanimously; the board discussed whether this sets a precedent, with Chelsea noting roughly 4 similar approvals over the past ~4 years, mostly for senior living
• Alderman Potts and Vice Mayor Baggett both opposed the development plan on massing and gateway grounds — Potts noted the site is only accessible by circling around via the Twice Daily intersection; Baggett thinks the scale is too large for the I-65 exit and the development needs more work
• Alderman Blanton and Alderman Brown argued the site previously held a deteriorated motel (Goose Creek Inn) and a filling station, and that the surrounding context — office buildings, In-N-Out Burger — doesn't support treating this as a pristine gateway

Denson Place PUD (Franklin Housing Authority)

• The board approved rezoning 5.14 acres at 137 Natchez Street from PD to PD 21.7 unanimously — this is the second-to-last project in the FHA master plan, a joint venture with Elmington
• Development plan for 97 multifamily units (2–3 stories, all existing buildings demolished) passed unanimously with all 4 MOSs approved:
  • MOS 1: parking reduced to 1.75 spaces per unit for all bedroom types
  • MOS 2: natural area requirement waived (none exists on site), total open space increased to 15%
  • MOS 3: stormwater infrastructure permitted within the historic buffer adjacent to First Missionary Baptist Church
  • MOS 4: utility easements permitted within the historic buffer without adding offsetting width
• The board amended the motion to require the 6:12 roof pitch design (lower gable option) rather than the 9:12 — passed unanimously; applicant had presented survey data showing the proposed building's finished floor (645'6") sits 5.5 ft lower than the adjacent police station (660'), making the height difference less significant than GIS data had suggested
• Participant 1 asked whether the Carter Center Visitor Center height was measured relative to the police station — Gamble confirmed it wasn't but offered to pull finished floor elevations from building records

Iris Place PUD (Franklin Housing Authority)

• The board approved rezoning 7.68 acres at 500 Westmead Boulevard from PD to PD 18.85 unanimously — the last project in the FHA master plan
• Development plan for 144 residential units across 5 new multifamily buildings (2–3 stories, all existing buildings demolished) passed unanimously with 2 MOSs approved:
  • MOS 1: parking reduced to 1.75 spaces per unit for all bedroom types (identical to Denson Place)
  • MOS 2: natural area requirement waived, total open space increased to 15% (identical to Denson Place)

Clovercroft Road annexation

• The board approved the plan of services (Resolution 2026-48) 7–1 and the annexation resolution (Resolution 2026-47) 7–1, with Vice Mayor Baggett voting no on both — 22.78 acres, 5 parcels north of Clovercroft Road and east of Oxford Glen Drive
• Gamble noted the parcels are surrounded by city limits on all sides (a "doughnut hole") and that city services are already being provided along Clovercroft and portions of Oxford Glen today
• The 5 property owners agreed to develop under a unified master plan rather than separately — the mixed residential designation allows single family, townhomes, and multiplex units

Poplars Reserve PUD

• The board approved the zoning ordinance (Ordinance 2026-17) 6–2 and the development plan (Resolution 2026-52) 7–1, with Vice Mayor Baggett voting no on both; Alderman Caesar voted no on the zoning
• 41 single-family lots on 22.78 acres — staff opposed all 3 MOSs on connectivity grounds, but the planning commission recommended approval on all three; the board approved all 3:
  • MOS 1: street stub to eastern property waived (7–1)
  • MOS 2: western connection aligned to northern property line via cul-de-sac extension rather than extending Denhart Drive (6–2)
  • MOS 3: cul-de-sac permitted at western connection at Albrecht Drive (6–2)
• Vice Mayor Baggett explained MOS 2 is a consequence of a prior board decision to stub Navarro behind the tree line to preserve the viewshed — that decision made a direct connection unreasonable
• Two conditions of approval were added and passed unanimously:
  • Setback from Clovercroft Road increased from ~28.5 ft to 50 ft (Alderman Burger's motion, worked out with the developer without losing a lot)
  • Turn lane and road improvements along Clovercroft (from the development down to the start of Navarro) required before the first certificate of occupancy

Board appointments

• Reappointed 4 members to the ethics commission: Jim Martin, Juanita Patton, Donna Wilson, and Jerry Sharbert — passed unanimously
• Appointed Aaron Housel to the ethics commission — Participant 1 noted 16 applications, interviewed 9, and Housel is the ethics officer at Nissan North America — passed unanimously
• Appointed Victoria McCoy to the Development Services Advisory Commission — passed unanimously
• Appointed Mary Pierce, Heather Dorschel, and Alma McLemore to the Civil War History Commission — passed unanimously

Executive session and settlement

• The board voted unanimously to reject the $58,000 settlement offer in City of Franklin v. Ellen Octavia Stokes Dunivan et al. (Circuit Court Case No. 26-CV-34)

For all other meetings go here.

Election Commission

Thursday, August 13th

The WCEC did an audit for the August 6th election. I wasn't present, but I have a report and editorial from Frank Limpus an election integrity activist. I don't think that our Election Commission is untrustworthy, but I do think that machines pose issues that water marked paper ballots do not. In Frank's opinion piece, he is mostly critical of state leadership. Bottom line, there is no perfect system and Frank points out weak points in machine based voting.

If not me, who?

If not now, when?

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Heb. 11:1)

“We work hard with our own hands. When we are vilified, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer gently.” (1^st Corinthians 4:12-13)

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves" (Philippians 2:3)

Blessings,

Bill

pettyandassociates@gmail.com

Community resources

If you like Friday Recap, check out these other grassroots conservative projects!

• Grassroots Citizens of Williamson County Provides free tools and information to help grassroots conservatives exercise their citizenship here in Williamson County.
• Tennessee Voters for Election Integrity is helping restore confidence in Tennessee Elections.
• TruthWire Local news and commentary.
• Williamson County Republican Party is one of the most active parties in the state and captures the conservative heart of Tennessee.
• Mom's For Liberty Williamson County is dedicated to fighting for the American family by unifying, educating and empowering parents to defend their parental rights at all levels of government.
• Tennessee Stands produces video media, podcasts, and live events, and provides social commentary on relevant issues in our state.
• M4LU is a new site developed by the national Mom's for Liberty but generated right here in Williamson County. The mission of M4LU is to to inform, equip, and empower parents with knowledge, understanding and practical tools.

Help educate citizens of Williamson County

Want to support Friday Recap? Forward this newsletter to 3 people and invite them to subscribe. Use this link

Was this newsletter forwarded to you? Subscribe now by clicking below.