Newsletter

Friday Recap for July 25th, 2025

Bill Petty

26 Jul 2025 — 25 min read

Photo by Brandon Jean / Unsplash

My Comment

Special election for U.S. Representative, District 7

The calendar for the special election has been officially set:

So far, Jody Barrett, Matt Van Epps, Lee Reeves, Stewart Cooper, Stewart Parks, Jason Knight and Jon thorp several others have declared that they are running. My understanding is that Gino Bulso and maybe a few more will be declaring soon (go here for updates on who's running).

As I mentioned in my July 11th Recap, this election feels like deja vu all over again. Politics has been the same since time immemorial, and money and influence are the major drivers. They work hand in hand in every election. Which leads me to ask who has received the most PAC money, both in state and out of state, in the most recent election? The objective answer to that question is Lee Reeves (who won his current seat last year by about 300 votes).

Just for the record, during the primary for State Representative in District 65 this past year, various PACs provided mailer production, printing and mailing for Reeves' campaign to the tune of approximately $900,000. Adam Friedman from Tennessee Look Out has done a great job of tracking down PAC money in his article Cash for Clout database: Who’s funding Tennessee’s politics? This is a user-friendly tool to track political spending in Tennessee. You can also type in TN Campaign Reports in your browser and do your own search. Sarah White of the Williamson Herald wrote a very good article School choice PACs pour money into District 65 race in August of 2024.

Interestingly, mayors Moore, Anderson et. al. wrote a letter to voters about the negative campaign against Brian Beathard, who was running against Lee and I quote from the article:

“In a letter to Williamson County voters, District 65 Rep. Sam Whitson, Franklin Mayor Ken Moore, County Mayor Rogers Anderson, Fairview Mayor Lisa Anderson and Thompson’s Station Mayor Brian Stover said the negative ads against Beathard “cross the line of decency,” and raise their concerns about “out-of-state PACs and ‘dark money’ special interest groups’” involvement in the Aug. 1 election."

Reeves' response to the out-of-state PAC money was:

"'We’re proud of our positive campaign, and momentum for our campaign continues to grow. I have nothing to do with negative third-party advertising and have accepted no PAC contributions directly to my campaign,' Reeves said in a statement to the Herald."

Lee Reeves has claimed to receive glowing endorsements from all seven mayors and a number of county commissioners as well. All 7 mayors in Williamson County endorse Lee Reeves for Congress. So the question that begs to be answered is, if out-of-state PAC money produces the same “cross-the-line-of- decency" type of ads, will these endorsers just look the other way, or will they write another letter to the voters condemning indecent campaigning?

I hope I’m wrong, but my guess is that we will soon see a barrage of negative ads via mail and texts coming our way. If so, the response from these endorsers will be instructive.

Keep in mind that we have seen big money thrown at negative campaigns which ultimately failed, most recently the one conducted by the Williamson County Conservatives (WCC) against the Elevate candidate (now our WCRP board members). The majority of bona fide GOP voters in Williamson County rejected the WCC's deceitful attacks, which resulted in an 8-0 victory for the Elevate candidates despite the WCC having spent a boat-load of money in their campaign.

We must always remember the only endorsement that matters is from voters on election day. We The People retain power over our government, not well-funded special interest groups, out-of-state political consultants or community influencers. It's up to each of us to exercise our power responsibly by becoming educated on the candidates, knowledgeable about the issues, then voting for the candidate we believe is best qualified and best reflects our values.

The new consultant for the Williamson County Health Plan

Last week, I reported on the decision by the Purchasing and Insurance Committee to hire the Drury Group to be our new health insurance consultant. As a follow-up, I am sharing their RFP for those of you who like to play in the weeds. It's 206 pages long so, happy reading RFP. I will keep you posted as I hear more.

Williamson County Sheriff's monthly report for June 2025

Williamson County State of the County

On Wednesday, mayor Rogers Anderson gave us the State of the County video

AI Summary

Note, AI doesn't catch everything that is said. The summary below is a good representation of what went on, but I recommend that you watch the video yourself. Primary source is always best. Mayor Anderson's remarks start at 30:36.

Overview

Williamson County's assessed property values hit $29 billion after a 53% increase, representing $10 billion in growth in one year
County operates on nearly a $1 billion budget with the school system receiving $562.5 million and a $0.75 tax rate dedicated to schools
TDOT outlined $315 million in transportation projects for Williamson and Maury counties, though Columbia Avenue widening won't begin construction until 2033
County approved $325 million new jail construction project while maintaining triple-A bond rating with debt ratio of 1.07% - the lowest in 30 years
Williamson County unemployment decreased while 92 other Tennessee counties saw increases, and the county ranked #1 in Tennessee for best place to raise a family
Tourism generated $1.3 billion in direct spending in 2023, making Williamson County #6 statewide for tourism revenue

Brightstone disability services overview

Lee Rose highlighted that 160,000 Tennesseans live with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with 10% of Williamson County's 42,000 K-12 students having disabilities
75% of students with disabilities are unemployed after high school graduation, creating permanent dependence on parents for housing, transportation, and healthcare
Brightstone has served adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities for 26 years in Williamson County
Tennessee Governor selected Brightstone as a pilot residential program in 2024 - the only organization in Middle Tennessee legally allowed to offer residential options in a campus setting
Brightstone's PATH program provides vocational training, internships, and job coaching to help students gain paid or volunteer positions in the community

Williamson Health services expansion

Michelle Simpson announced a new primary care clinic opening in Cool Springs that hasn't been publicly announced yet
Williamson Health added new providers in primary care, walk-in care, maternal fetal medicine, and orthopedics through partnership with Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee
Hospital installed new state-of-the-art electrophysiology lab, comprehensive PACS imaging system, and is preparing to install new cardiac MRI and CT equipment
Williamson Health celebrated 1 year since opening Boyer Bryan West Tower and 10 years of pediatric emergency room and inpatient unit partnership with Monroe Carroll Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt
Pediatric unit has 10 beds and pediatric ER has 8 beds with 24/7 pediatric emergency physicians and 6% transfer rate to downtown Vanderbilt

Student internship success stories

Logan Phillips from Fairview High toured Horn USA during Manufacturing Day as a junior and earned a paid summer internship with the company
Logan spent the summer learning alongside engineers and machinists and presented his work to the Horn team
Matt Larson's cousin completed an internship at Vanderbilt's Warren Center and was offered a full-time job
Williamson Inc. is creating a database of every company in Williamson County that offers internships for parents and Tennessee colleges to access
Silvana (Page High graduate) and Jeremy (Ravenwood graduate) both work at Schneider Electric, which Williamson County recruited in 2017 - Silvana started as a 2019 college intern and now works in supply chain logistics, Jeremy was hired in 2023 for AI implementation

Youth leadership scholarships

Youth Leadership Brentwood awarded scholarships to Skylar Loxmore (Brentwood High, attending University of Arkansas for marketing) and Ben Grotkowski (Ravenwood High, attending University of Tennessee for finance)
Leadership Franklin awarded $1,500 scholarship to Riva Leilani (Page High graduate attending Belmont University for exercise science with psychology minor)
Leadership Franklin has given $24,000 total toward student higher education since the scholarship program started in 2009
All recipients were recognized for outstanding academic achievements, community service, and leadership activities

Road infrastructure challenges

Williamson County has 584 square miles with 6 municipalities and 1,057 county roads consisting of 741 road miles maintained by county Highway Department
County Highway Department operates on $15.9 million budget funded entirely through wheel tax, business taxes, mineral severance taxes, gas and motor fuel taxes, and state revenue sharing - no property tax funding
TDOT maintains 16 state routes with 189 road miles plus 3 interstates totaling 63 miles through Williamson County
TDOT projects take 8-10 years from start to finish, with Mack Hatcher extension (Hillsboro Road to Highway 96) taking 28 years to complete
Columbia Avenue widening from Goose Creek Bypass to Spring Hill scheduled for engineering phase in 2026, right-of-way acquisition in 2029, and construction in 2033

County growth management plan

Updated growth plan approved by state's Local Government Planning Commission on November 13, 2024 after unprecedented collaboration between all 7 jurisdictions (county plus **6 cities)
Growth Management Roundtable consists of all mayors and key staff members, meeting quarterly to discuss transportation and other common issues
Plan will be updated every 5-10 years and requires all 7 jurisdictions to approve any annexation outside urban growth boundaries
Roundtable has met twice so far, both meetings focused on transportation issues
Upcoming challenges include solid waste landfills and ambulance service delivery across the community

School system funding

Williamson County operates 52 schools: 29 elementary, 11 middle, and 11 high schools, plus 1 K-8 school
School system operational budget totaled $562.5 million with $0.75 tax rate approved specifically for schools
Approximately $0.69 of the $3.30 total tax rate (69%) goes toward school operations and capital costs
Franklin Special School District boundaries were established by private act and don't expand with city growth - new areas go to Williamson County schools
School system receives approximately 24% of local sales tax revenue, making local shopping important for school funding

County budget and finances

County operates on nearly $1 billion budget with funding sources: 1% federal, 24% state, 75% local taxpayers
County ended fiscal year 2025 with $1 million in total direct debt and $939 million in net debt against $105.2 billion tax base
Total debt ratio is 1.07% and net debt ratio is 0.89% - the lowest debt ratios in over 30 years
County maintained triple-A bond rating since 2008 - only 3-4 Tennessee counties have this highest rating
Budget committee included Judy Herbert (chair), Megan Guffey, David O'Neill, Mary Smith, with Phoebe Riley managing financial analysis

New jail construction project

County Commission approved $325 million total debt obligation for new jail construction with $280 million approved as of last year
Project located on Beasley site with some operations being moved to county landfill to free up space
Funds will be borrowed in phases to avoid interest on unused borrowed funds - a conservative approach to protect triple-A bond rating
All city arrests go to county jail since cities don't operate jails - entirely funded by county through sheriff's budget
Sheriff's budget was $25.9 million with additional $11 million for jail operations

Property assessments and tax rates

Recent countywide reappraisal resulted in $29 billion total assessed value - a 53% increase and $10 billion more than previous year
County moving from 4-year to 3-year reappraisal cycle to better capture growth opportunities
2006 total assessed value was $6 billion, now $29 billion - nearly $30 billion
Williamson County property tax rates are lower than most surrounding counties
County Commission approved the reappraisal process with tax rate decisions made by 24 county commissioners

Economic indicators and tourism

Tourism ranked Williamson County #6 in Tennessee with $1.3 billion in direct spending in 2023
Nashville Business Journal reported 9% decrease in greater Nashville housing market, but Williamson County remained steady with no change in closings
Williamson County unemployment decreased while 92 of Tennessee's counties saw unemployment increases
Smart Assets Team ranked Williamson County #1 in Tennessee as best place to raise a family based on housing, education, recreation, and childcare costs
Renaissance Festival brought in over $2 million in revenue over the past 2 years

Hospital strategic planning process

Williamson Medical Center named America's 2025 Best Hospitals in 5 categories by Women's Choice Award: heart care, mammogram, women's services, and minimally invasive surgery
Williamson Health Board of Trustees announced comprehensive strategic planning process exploring all options including remaining independent or change in ownership
No decision has been made and it's "business as usual" - process is about ensuring future success, not survival
Hospital currently in strong financial position with process focused on achieving mission of caring for community including employees, medical staff, and patients
Board committed to choosing best path for Williamson Health's mission of community care

this past week the following committees/commissions met:

Monday July 21st

Franklin Design Review Committee

Wednesday July 23rd

Williamson County Storm Water Appeals Board

Thursday July 24th

Williamson County Board of Zoning Appeals
Franklin Capital Investment committee
Boma & FMPC Joint Conceptual Workshop
Franklin Municipal Planning Commission

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.

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Williamson County School District

Nothing scheduled until August

Williamson County Commission

Williamson County Commission committees

Special Note: Since Williamson County does not record any meetings other than the commission, budget committee and planning commission meetings, I am recording all the meetings that I attend on my iPhone. We are in the process of reviewing a technology upgrade that will allow the county to record more meetings as well as include agendas, minutes and packets on our website. I will keep you up to date when progress is made

Wednesday July 23rd

Storm Water Appeals Board will met Agenda. I have no further information

Thursday July 24th

The Board of Zoning appeals will met Agenda. I have no further information

Next Week

There are no meetings scheduled other than the Election Commission below.

These are all public meetings and anyone can attend.

Williamson County Commission Committees

Board of Mayor and Aldermen

Monday July 21st

The Design Review Committee Agenda/Packet video

AI Summary

Action Items

[ ] Drake - Revise parallel parking placement behind tree line Revise the site plan to move proposed parallel parking spaces behind the existing tree line to preserve the primary view shed from the Civil War battlefield hill
[ ] Drake - Provide specific signage proposals with exact positioning Provide detailed signage proposals showing exact quantities, specific positioning, and precise designs for each requested modification of standards rather than general concepts
[ ] Reed Talley - Coordinate with zoning administrator on mechanical screening color Work with the zoning administrator to confirm whether the proposed galvalum material that weathers to a darker color over time meets the zoning ordinance requirement for dark-colored rooftop screening
[ ] John Ligon - Obtain third-party contractor estimates for demolition analysis Provide cost estimates from independent third-party contractors rather than self-generated estimates, with letters from architects or structural engineers with historic structure experience incorporating these third-party estimates
[ ] Steve Scott - Provide detailed bracket specifications and drawings for awning installation Bring detailed specifications and drawings of the brackets that will hold up the copper awning at 900 Fair Street, including whether they are painted, raw wrought iron, or oiled wrought iron, and any off-the-shelf product information
[ ] Steve Scott - Provide images of similar residential awnings throughout Franklin Bring images of other residences throughout Franklin that show similar awning installations to provide precedent for the proposed copper awning design
[ ] Jennifer Lombard - Add foundation delineation details to construction plans Add foundation delineation details to the Lot 7 construction plans, particularly where the building uses all brick facades without visible foundation separation
[ ] Participant 7 - Provide gate setback dimensions from front facade Provide dimensions showing the distance of proposed gates from the front plane of each house to confirm they meet the 20-foot setback requirement for rear yard fencing height allowances
[ ] Participant 7 - Provide distance measurements from fence to Magnolia Hall facade Provide specific distance measurements from the proposed front yard fencing to the front facade of the historic Magnolia Hall mansion
[ ] Participant 7 - Create visual renderings showing fence from public viewshed Create 3D renderings or visual mockups showing what the proposed four-board horse fencing will look like from the public view shed, including the house and grade considerations

Overview

DRC provided guidance on 7 historic district projects, with key decisions on awning materials, fencing placement, and building massing
Steve and Kathy Scott received support for copper awning at 900 Fair Street despite material not being in guidelines
Magnolia Hall developers withdrew front yard fencing proposal after commissioners raised concerns about 4ft tall horse fencing not meeting 3ft height guidelines
Harpeth Village development reduced building heights from 54ft to 48ft and increased buffer distance to Morningside Drive from 33ft to 176ft
John Ligon's demolition request at 119 Church Street received preliminary support due to structural damage from tree that fell over 2 years ago

Awning installation at 900 Fair Street

Steve and Kathy Scott proposed copper Juliet-style awning to replace existing green round awning
Fabricators recommended copper over painted metal due to bending and indentation issues with cheaper materials
Proposed dimensions: 6ft opening coverage with 3ft projection and 5ft rise
Lisa supported copper material despite guidelines recommending canvas or cotton, noting copper patinas beautifully over time
Tyler appreciated the verticality and elegance of the concave design over the convex bay window style
Scott agreed to bring detailed bracket specifications and additional Franklin precedent examples to voting meeting

Fencing at 1850 William Campbell Court

Lance Horwath proposed 4ft tall black four-board horse fencing around Magnolia Hall private amenities
Staff noted guidelines recommend 3ft maximum height for front yard fencing and don't recognize four-board horse fencing as appropriate material
Tyler expressed concern about fencing in front yard of mansion, noting it doesn't meet guidelines and creates layers between road and historic view shed
Brian suggested phased approach - wait to see if privacy issues actually develop before installing front fencing
Commissioners supported rear yard fencing connection but opposed front yard portion that wraps around walking trail
Distance from mansion to proposed front fence: 130-160ft depending on location

Site elements at Magnolia Hall lots 2-6

Lance Horwath proposed repetitive elements: 32-inch stone columns with 28-inch gas lanterns, paver walkways and driveways, and custom gates
Staff noted proposed Teco block pavers not historically typical, recommending brick, stone, or concrete instead
Tyler questioned 11 identical gas lantern columns, noting guidelines recommend concealed lighting and small footlights rather than post-mounted fixtures
Commissioners suggested each house should have unique lighting approach rather than identical columns
Brian supported custom gate designs that complement each house's architectural style
Staff requested 20ft setback measurements from front facades to confirm appropriate fence heights

Factory roofing and mechanical screening

Reed Talley proposed galvalume roofing material that weathers to match existing factory campus roofing
Added 4 windows to fitness room on north elevation of hotel building
Proposed matching galvalume material for mechanical screening rather than dark color required by zoning
Lisa and Brian supported weathered galvalume for both roof and screening, noting dark screening would make equipment more visible
Tyler agreed galvalume gutters and downspouts appropriate to match roof material
Emily noted need to confirm with zoning administrator whether HZC can approve color change for mechanical screening

New construction at lot 7 Magnolia Hall

Jennifer Lombard revised design based on July HZC feedback, pushing back glassed porch and reducing right side gable to single story
Changes opened up problematic front right corner and created appearance of additions over time
Brian suggested removing transom windows in sunroom and tucking roof line under main gable for more historic appearance
Tyler agreed transom removal would make enclosed porch look more like simple porch enclosure rather than conservatory addition
Elizabeth noted need to add foundation delineation on brick facades where currently missing
10ft ceiling heights maintained throughout first floor

Harpeth Village development review

Drake and Meredith presented revised mixed-use development with reduced building heights and increased setbacks
Building heights reduced from 54ft 10in to 48ft 10in maximum, with commercial building stepping from 22ft to 32ft 6in
Increased buffer to Morningside Drive from 33ft to 176ft on north side and 73ft on south side
Broke up 277ft long building into 200ft length and separate structures
Lisa requested another site visit given significant development precedent being set
Tyler supported reduced massing but recommended lightening brick materiality at building tops and relocating parallel parking behind tree line to preserve Civil War battlefield views
Brian noted conflict between industrial context and historic preservation requirements

Demolition request at 119 Church Street

John Ligon requested demolition of circa 1920-1924 frame dwelling damaged by tree fall over 2 years ago
Building listed as non-contributing on National Register due to extensive alterations including front addition
Structural engineer reports detailed extensive damage from prolonged weather exposure through roof opening
Brian supported demolition noting building meets criteria for lost architectural integrity and structural deterioration beyond feasible repair
Tyler agreed, noting any restoration would result in entirely new construction rather than historic preservation
Lisa acknowledged thorough engineering documentation but emphasized high standards for historic demolition approval

Thursday July 24th

Capital Investment Committee Agenda/Packet Video

AI Summary

Action Items

[ ] Participant 3 - Check with development team about Jordan Road project details Consult with the development team to clarify details about the Jordan Road improvement project off Liberty Pike, including whether the developer or city is responsible for the work.
[ ] Participant 7 - Follow up with developer on Market Street project timeline Contact the developer to get answers on when the Market Street construction project is slated to be completed and provide update to Alderman Berger.
[ ] Participant 7 - Follow up with developer on Liberty Pike project status Contact the development team to get an update on the Liberty Pike project status and timeline, as residents have been calling with complaints about the extended construction period of 14-15 months.

Overview

Committee approved East McEwen Drive right of way authorization for 7 properties in Franklin, with Brentwood handling 59% of costs and Franklin 41%
Approved $215,480 contract with C&T Engineering for Hobas pipe inspection services covering 1,400 feet of emergency repair work
Mac Hatcher Southeast funding remains disputed—TDOT believes they're funding 25% vs the intended 50/50 split, with $25 million still at issue
Columbia Avenue right of way acquisition progressing with 4 new appraisals received, affecting 60 property owners over estimated 2-3 year timeline
96 median project awarded at just under $800,000, targeting completion by end of 2025

East McEwen Drive right of way authorization

Committee approved resolution authorizing city administrator to acquire rights of way and easements for East McEwen Drive phase improvement project
Paul confirmed design plans for right of way are essentially complete and Redwood requested initiation of acquisition process
Franklin will acquire 7 parcels in city limits while Brentwood handles their 7 parcels
Eric clarified cost breakdown: Franklin 41%, Brentwood 59%
Condemnation will be used as last resort, with appraisal process expected to begin within 4-5 months
Eric noted intent is for phase four completion to lead directly into building phase five

Hobas pipe inspection services contract

Committee approved $215,480 contract with C&T Engineering for construction inspection services on 48-inch FRP Hobas emergency repair
Michelle explained C&T has provided inspection services for all previous Hobas breaks and worked extensively with legal on documentation formatting
Inspection covers approximately 1,400 feet of pipe with mix of lining and traditional replacement sections
Michelle noted they completed TV inspections earlier this year and don't anticipate imminent breaks in surrounding areas
Mark confirmed this is part of systematic review to plan projects instead of react to emergencies
Eric clarified all funding comes from sewer fund, not general fund

Mac Hatcher Southeast funding and timeline

Jonathan reported fundamental misunderstanding with TDOT about funding split—TDOT believes they're funding 25% while city expected 50/50 arrangement
City still pursuing $25 million in additional funding through MPO's draft RTP and future TDOT opportunities
Eric outlined strategy to potentially move project up in TDOT's schedule by fronting design dollars, particularly for Lewisburg Pike intersection component
Jonathan explained Mac Hatcher portion suits design build well with existing right of way, but Lewisburg Pike intersection requires additional right of way acquisition
Project requires conceptual plans for design builders to work from after environmental review completion

Columbia Avenue acquisition progress

Jonathan reported 4 new appraisals received in addition to original 3, with process accelerating
Project involves approximately 60 property owners for right of way slivers and easements
Acquisitions will be in both state and city names, with respective entities handling any condemnation proceedings
Timeline estimated at 2-2.5 years for right of way acquisition due to Uniform Relocation Act requirements and TDOT review process
Construction expected to begin approximately 3 years from now with 2.5 year build duration
Night construction being considered as option due to lack of residential interface

Infrastructure project updates

96 median project bids opened at just under $800,000, going to BOMA second meeting in August for award
Project includes median work plus restriping on east side shoulder with 90-day contract timeline targeting year-end completion
Five Points intersection completed 2 weeks early with final paving scheduled for entire project by early September
City Hall project awarded first two bid packages at approximately $1 million under projected costs totaling around $27 million
Pearl Park initial site work progressing with clearing and erosion control, including sediment basins for future detention ponds

Boma & FMPC Joint Conceptual Workshop Agenda/Packet video

AI Summary

Overview

Franklin Municipal Planning Commission and Board of Aldermen held joint conceptual workshop on July 24, 2025 to discuss potential Envision Franklin plan amendment for Roper's Knob property at 354 Franklin Road
Greg Gamble representing applicant Cumberland and Western requested input before formal submittal to modify Hillside Hilltop Overlay (HHO) boundary to reduce conservation area
Staff emphasized need for Envision Franklin amendment first before any HHO boundary rezoning due to prominence of hillside and views from major thoroughfares
Commissioners expressed concerns about setting precedent for HHO modifications and protecting 150-foot buffer for Ash Drive residents
Applicant proposed following natural tree line as new HHO boundary, showing 50-foot tall structures would not be visible from Franklin Road
Commission generally supportive of modifications away from residential areas but wants to maintain full tree buffer near Ash Drive

Staff presentation on amendment process

Staff explained that Envision Franklin amendment is required first before any HHO boundary rezoning request due to prominence of hillside and views from major thoroughfares
Staff noted the proposal represents significant deviation from conservation line in Envision Franklin
Staff cannot comment on viewshed impacts without accompanying plan showing building siting, height, scale and massing
Staff considers existing slopes, tree canopy, and viewshed when evaluating changes to conservation areas within HHO

Applicant's HHO boundary proposal

Greg Gamble presented proposal to modify HHO boundary to follow natural tree line instead of current arbitrary line
Current HHO elevation varies from 680 feet at Franklin Road to 740 feet at city-owned property, with 70-foot grade change along Mac Hatcher Parkway
Proposed boundary follows existing tree line that runs straight along contour in open field area
Applicant noted current HHO line goes through existing barn structure
Two areas along Mac Hatcher Parkway have slopes less than 9% that are manageable for development

Visual impact and view shed analysis

Applicant conducted line-of-sight analysis showing 50-foot tall structure would not be visible from Franklin Road
Video flyby demonstrated proposed changes would be screened from view on Mac Hatcher Parkway and Cool Springs Boulevard
Structures would sit lower in elevation behind existing berm and railroad track
Applicant showed bird's eye view illustrating where proposed line falls in open field

Ash Drive residents buffer concerns

Alderman Peterson raised concerns about impact on Ash Drive residents and their views when driving to homes
Applicant proposed leaving 150-foot width tree buffer alongside Ash Drive properties instead of current 300-foot buffer
Commissioners Allen and Franks strongly opposed reducing buffer near residential area
Commission consensus to maintain full existing tree line buffer near Ash Drive to avoid setting precedent

Tree line boundary considerations

Commissioner Allen suggested following existing tree line boundary, especially near Hill Estates area
Natural tree line runs approximately 320-325 feet in width
Commissioners agreed tree line provides natural demarcation for HHO boundary
Steep slopes of 14-20% (light purple) and 25%+ slopes (dark color) identified as factors in boundary determination
Some steep slopes are man-made from previous football field construction with viewing berm

HHO modification precedent concerns

Commissioner Allen expressed concern about giving up hillside overlay since "once you give it up, you never get it back"
Commission worried about setting precedent for future HHO modifications
Allen suggested potential trade-off of reforestation in cleared HHO areas as community benefit
Commission emphasized need to be careful about precedent, especially near residential areas

Review process without master plan

Applicant requested feedback on reviewing Envision Franklin amendment without accompanying master plan
Greg Gamble explained difficulty investing in full master plan without knowing if HHO flexibility is possible
Current land use policy is rural reserve allowing half-acre lot development
Commission indicated preference for residential development and recommended neighborhood meetings before proceeding
Any more intensive development would require additional Envision Franklin plan amendment

Franklin Municipal Planning Commission Agenda/Packet Video

AI Summary

Overview

Planning Commission approved Aureum PUD rezoning from 850,000 sq ft commercial/700 hotel keys to 245,460 sq ft commercial/300 hotel keys, reducing traffic by 4,000 daily trips
Commission approved Ovation PUD rezoning to 1,655,000 sq ft non-residential space and 350 hotel rooms across 103.93 acres
Both developments received approval for multiple design modifications, including roof forms, signage, and parking structure placement
Highwoods and WEGO began early discussions about potential regional transit hub at Ovation with park-and-ride facilities
Officer Ryan Schuman's retirement recognized - his last day is Thursday, August 1st, 2025

Officer retirement recognition

Emily announced Officer Ryan Schuman is retiring with his last day on Thursday, August 1st, 2025
Schuman frequently provided security at Planning Commission meetings
His retirement party is scheduled for Thursday, August 1st, 2025

Urban Plan Workshop announcement

Emily announced Urban Plan Workshop for Wednesday, October 1st from 8am to noon at Eastern Flank event facility
Workshop led by Urban Land Institute featuring interactive fictional case study on land use decisions
Event counts toward 4 required Continuing Education Training hours annually
Open to Board of Mayor and Aldermen and Planning Commission members initially

Orium PUD rezoning request

South Star requested rezoning 27.19 acres from PD 21.8 to PD 33.1
Planning Commission unanimously approved rezoning recommendation to Board of Mayor and Aldermen
Glenn McGee noted original zoning occurred in 2019, with COVID-19 disrupting 2020 construction plans
Greg Gamble confirmed extensive off-site improvements already completed for phase one residential

Orium development plan modifications

Commission approved revised development plan with 900 homes, 400 hotel rooms, 92,860 sq ft restaurant/retail, and 153,600 sq ft office
Plan reduces traffic impact by 4,000 average daily trips, down 110 AM peak trips and 333 PM peak trips compared to original 2019 approval
Approved four modifications of standards:
- MOS 1: Pitched/gabled roofs for non-residential structures (approved)
- MOS 2: Maximum 3 digital interactive wayfinding screen panels (approved 6-2)
- MOS 3: Neon/LED lighting for internal sign illumination and halo effects (approved 6-2)
- MOS 4: String lighting in designated pedestrian areas (approved unanimously)
Commissioner Allen and Commissioner Williamson voted against signage modifications, citing concerns about precedent and ordinance consistency

Ovation PUD rezoning request

Highwoods requested rezoning 103.93 acres from PD 12.23 to PD 15.34
Planning Commission unanimously approved rezoning recommendation
Greg Gamble noted plan stays within 2014 traffic study parameters of 32,000 daily trips, adding only 1,100 trips
Alec Chambers thanked commission and staff for substantial time investment in review process

Ovation development plan modifications

Commission approved revised plan with 1,594 multifamily units, 69 townhomes, 1,655,000 sq ft non-residential space, and 350 hotel rooms
Approved eight modifications of standards including:
- Block length up to 3,600 linear feet for wetland area
- Flat roofs for townhomes
- Elimination of 50% requirements for transom windows and knee walls
- Precast concrete as primary building material (approved 6-1 despite staff disapproval)
- 22-foot retaining wall behind Building J (removed 16-foot Brook Meadow Lane wall from request)
- Parking structures along Carruthers Parkway and McEwen Drive with enhanced architectural conditions
Commissioner Allen consistently voted against modifications lacking staff support, citing insufficient information and enforcement concerns

Transit partnership discussions

Highwoods, WEGO, and Franklin Transit began early discussions about regional transit hub at Ovation
Potential services include motor coaches to Nashville/airport and local shuttle connections
WEGO deputy director has previous MARTA station development experience with Alec Chambers
Staff recommended transit-related conditions for parking structure approval, but commission approved applicant's architectural conditions instead
Greg Gamble noted financial incentives from WEGO and federal grants could offset parking structure cost

Election Commission

No meetings this week

Next Week

Monday July 28th

Election Commission meets at 4:00 pm at 405 Downs Blvd, Franklin Agenda

Check out the special election calendar for the U.S. Congress District 7

Some questions that need to be answered by both the Williamson County Election Commission as well as the State Election Commission

Williamson County Election integrity group asks election commissions how they plan to comply with President Trump’s election executive order

With the Distrct 7 special election to replace Representative Mark Green approaching in October (primary) and December (general) and involving several Williamson County candidates, Tennessee Voters for Election Integrity (TVEI) spoke to the Williamson County Election Commission on June 24^th and to the Tennessee State Election Commission on July 14^th asking how both entities were planning to comply with President Trump’s election executive order issued on March 25, 2025. Since the District 7 election is a FEDERAL election, the changes the EO recommends should be in effect. TVEI’s research has identified at least four items in the EO that should be addressed by both election commissions in time for this election:

All voting machines in the county – ballot marking devices and optical scanner/tabulators – are supposed to have been upgraded and recertified by the US Election Assistance Commission (EAC) and state and local election commissions from Voluntary Voting Security Guideline standard 1.0 to standard 2.0, which contains a little more security.
- Because machines can be hacked and elections changed.
Any county that has a ballot that encases the voter’s selections in a bar code or QR code (Williamson County’s ES&S machines use a bar code – which is what is read by the tabulator to count the vote) is supposed to change to a ballot without a bar code/QR code. That would be a hand-marked paper ballot, one that is VOTER-VERIFIABLE.
- Because our ballots here in Williamson County are NOT voter-verifiable, because a voter cannot stand in the ballot box, look at his bar-coded-ballot and verify that his selections are in the bar code. Because no human can read bar code. The ballot shouldn’t also be created by a ballot-on-demand machine which is NOT certified by the EAC.
Homeland Security/the US Election Assistance Commission (EAC) is to report on the security and risk of all electronic systems used in voter registration and voting processes to ensure against malicious software and unauthorized intrusions.
- Because our registration software and registration process is managed by a tiny firm in west Tennessee called Embry Consulting. They handle this for 90 of Tennessee’s 95 counties. While we have requested information concerning their knowledge, abilities, certification, cybersecurity protections, processes, etc., we know absolutely nothing about this firm. Could they be a source of phantom voters in our voter rolls? We don’t know.
These election commissions are to ensure that no foreign nationals/non-governmental organizations, etc., aren’t contributing/donating/advising our elections.
- This question was not answered by either the Williamson County or Tennessee State Election Commission. How come?

When we commented at these public meetings, we received one half answer and one mis-leading answer from Williamson County and then no answers from the Tennessee State Election Commission commissioners. Meaning nothing is probably being done at either level, or these commissions are seeking to “run out the clock.” Trump’s deadline for these changes is September 21, 2025. Here is what TVEI sent to both groups the next day seeking an answer. Again, we’ve received nothing back more than two weeks later.

Citizens need to reach out to both organizations, as well as legislators to question the flippant, non-answer attitude toward these needed changes. Trump’s EO seeks to improve the election process. In absent responses from these two groups, we question what they intend.

Frank Limpus

Tennessee Voters for Election Integrity

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)

Blessings,

Bill

pettyandassociates@gmail.com

Community resources

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

Williamson County Citizens 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.
WCSB Substack. This site reports on the Williamson County School Board meetings. It provides accurate summaries of all WCSB meetings.

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