Wilson County planning commission defers Denny subdivision after neighbors raise flooding and notice concerns

The Wilson County Planning Commission on March 20 deferred action for 30 days on a preliminary plat for the Denny subdivision, a proposed 12‑lot development at the corner of Vista Road and Flatwoods Road, after residents raised concerns about drainage, lack of direct notification and traffic safety.

Staff introduced the preliminary plat and said the property (Map 137 Parcel 8) meets other preliminary requirements but may require sinkhole mitigation and further stormwater review by the county stormwater office before a final plat is filed. The developer’s representative, Jim Carmen, told the commission the applicant will work with staff and address comments.

Neighbors objected during the public‑comment period. Jim Schmidt, who said he lives at 10700 Central Pike next to the proposed entrance, said adjoining homeowners were not notified about the project and described repeated flooding and odor problems near his property. “There’s also a lot of safety concerns on Central Pike,” Schmidt said, asking whether road and drainage plans would be available for public review. Kyle Griffin (developer representative) and Christopher (planning staff) responded that detailed road and drainage plans are submitted after preliminary approval and are public records when filed.

Other neighbors pressed for traffic and buffer protections. Jennifer Stachowiak said placing two entrances across from Beckwith Road would be “a nightmare” and flagged recurring flooding near the proposed entrance; Justin Mahan said the new road could be as close as 15 feet from his house and asked what protections would prevent accidents or reduce noise.

Christopher and the developer said TDOT standards and a traffic study were part of the design, and that the developer intends streetscaping and tree buffers at the primary entrance if the board wants that requirement attached to approval.

After residents and board members debated whether to deny the preliminary over flooding and infrastructure concerns, a motion to deny failed because it did not receive the six votes required to carry. The commission then voted to defer the matter until its April 17 meeting so staff can obtain more detailed road, drainage and stormwater information and neighbors can review it. If the commission takes no action at the next meeting, the board was reminded by staff that the preliminary plat may be automatically approved under procedural rules.

Next steps: staff will gather construction‑level drainage and road plans when they are submitted, and the Denny preliminary will return to the commission on April 17 for further consideration.