Rutherford County planning staff previews three rezoning applications as full commission readies comprehensive plan vote

Doug DeMasi, Rutherford County planning and engineering director, told the Public Works and Planning subcommittee on Jan. 6 that staff will bring three rezoning applications to the county commission next week.

One application, from Laws Bolden, would rezone roughly 21 acres along Ocala Road (five parcels north of Interstate 840) to a planned development for mixed commercial uses. “They feel that this development would capitalize on access to Interstate 840,” DeMasi said, and the applicant’s pattern book shows three buildings totaling about 155,000 square feet. The pattern book also states the applicant has committed up to $100,000 toward signalization and roadway improvements identified in a traffic study.

Two applications by Jeffrey Turner were also described. One for 5905 Franklin Road requests rezoning from residential medium density to office professional and proposes interior renovation of an existing house for professional office use; staff said the site would need to show compliance with Tennessee Department of Transportation access requirements and provide required buffers adjacent to residential properties. The other Turner property, at 11642 Franklin Road, seeks rezoning to light industrial for a self‑storage facility (including RV and boat storage). DeMasi said the property owner had cleaned the site after county staff became aware of an unapproved business there and that the applicant reported neighborhood outreach and support.

DeMasi summarized planning‑commission action. The planning commission recommended approval of the Laws Bolden application subject to execution of a developer agreement. The Turner Franklin Road office professional rezoning received a unanimous planning‑commission recommendation; the light‑industrial request was discussed at length, a motion to defer failed, and the commission recommended approval by a 7–4–3 vote.

Separately, DeMasi reviewed the county’s comprehensive plan process. He said the planning commission adopted the plan in September and that the county commission will consider adoption on Jan. 22. He emphasized that adoption of the plan would endorse the recommendations of the planning commission but would not automatically change zoning or development regulations; zoning or subdivision regulation changes would follow separate public processes and hearings.

What’s next: the three rezoning items will appear on the county commission agenda next week and the comprehensive plan is scheduled for a special commission meeting on Jan. 22; site plans, traffic‑study results and developer‑agreement details will be reviewed if applications proceed.