Murfreesboro council approves first reading to rezone Chaffin Place site for Redeemer Classical Academy amid parental safety concerns

Murfreesboro — The City Council on Feb. 5 approved on first reading a rezoning request for roughly 5.3 acres at the end of Chaffin Place to allow Redeemer Classical Academy, a private K–12 school, to relocate and retrofit an existing building at 210 Chaffin Place.

City planner staff and consultants presented a concept showing reuse of the existing building, interior renovations, restriped parking and perimeter fencing, with a potential future addition. Consultant Brian Gover of SEC said the project would not exceed 42 feet in height and estimated a maximum enrollment of roughly 250–300 students when additions are included. Staff said the traffic department reviewed a submitted traffic-impact study and judged impacts to be nominal compared with the prior daycare use.

During the presentation, the applicant requested three exceptions under the planned institutional development (PND) zoning: use of the existing building without adding the typical base/body/cap architectural treatment, a reduction of the minimum landscape area between parking and property lines to 5 feet (matching the existing condition), and exclusion of additional foundation plantings. Brian Gover said the latter request was made for safety reasons—citing recommendations from the Department of Homeland Security to preserve unobstructed sight lines near building entrances.

At the public hearing, Stephanie Reiford of 719 Coopertown Road, who identified herself as a parent of children enrolled at Redeemer, said she supports the school as an affordable Christian option but urged the council to consider extending the school’s current permit or finding an alternative, safer site. "I was planning on possibly sending my kids to Redeemer… it scares me," Reiford said, expressing concern about crime near the proposed location and asking for more time or options to avoid the school's closure. She acknowledged the board had presented security plans (fencing, cameras, an SRO) but said that did not eliminate her worry.

City staff responded that Redeemer has historically sought temporary special-use extensions from the Board of Zoning Appeals for portables and could pursue another extension; staff said they have assisted the school over the last decade to find a permanent location. No other public commenters spoke on the rezoning.

Council members voiced varying comfort levels about the proposal but noted votes must follow the ordinance criteria. The council moved, seconded and approved the rezoning on first reading; roll-call votes recorded listed members voting "Aye." The action was taken as a first-reading ordinance; a subsequent hearing or action is required for final adoption.

The council packet shows Planning Commission recommended approval at its Dec. 3 meeting. Next steps: the rezoning proceeds through the city's ordinance-adoption process and any outstanding exceptions or site-specific conditions will be processed as required by city code.