Developers propose trimming Simmons Ridge by six units, shifting road and sewer alignment

Matt Huff of Campbell Design Collaborative told Franklin City planning stakeholders the firm is proposing a small revision to the Simmons Ridge development that would reduce the approved unit count and adjust site infrastructure.

Huff said Simmons Ridge is an 88-acre development previously approved at about 4.6 units per acre for a total of 408 units, with sections 1–13 already approved and section 14 still pending. “All we're really doing is reducing by 6 townhome units from 408 total units to 402,” Huff said, adding that most of the site layout and architecture will remain the same.

The proposal replaces six townhomes in the northwest corner with 11 single-family homes fronting South Carothers Road. The houses would back onto an alley with garages accessed from the alley; a mailbox area and stormwater detention are shown behind the homes. Huff explained the change responds to unforeseen environmental restraints encountered in that portion of the site.

The team also identified an off-site sewer connection for a future development to the north that will need to cross the Simmons Ridge property; the current plan locates that sewer alignment through the site. In addition, the northern road connection was shifted so the alley ties into a small turnaround and the right-of-way is extended to the property line to preserve connectivity for possible future development north of the site.

Huff said architecture and overall layout will remain largely unchanged, though topography in the northwest corner may alter minor building details such as garage step counts. Julie Jones, also with Campbell Design Collaborative, introduced herself at the start of the presentation but did not add substantive details beyond the engineering and layout description.

Regarding process, Huff said the team held a pre-application meeting with city staff and expects to submit the initial application on May 13. The project will be presented at a joint conceptual workshop on May 23 (no public hearing or vote is scheduled for that workshop) and is scheduled for a planning commission public hearing and vote on June 27.

Huff invited questions from attendees and offered to follow up on items he could not answer immediately; no questions were asked and the short meeting concluded with Huff saying he would share the recording with those present.