Commissioners approve two rezoning requests, including a PUD for Joshua Hein after neighbor concerns about traffic

Rutherford County commissioners on May 14 approved two rezoning requests following public hearings and staff presentations.

Planning Director Doug DeMasi summarized both applications: REZ26-005 by William Jordan would convert about 20 acres of a 38.5-acre site along Sulphur Springs Road from medium-density residential to commercial services and include potential shop and office uses; planning staff and the planning commission recommended approval and no members of the public spoke against it at the hearing. The commission approved the rezoning on a voice vote.

The second application, REZ25-010, is a planned unit development at 9180 Horton Highway proposed by Joshua Hein. The 10.5-acre proposal includes stables, an indoor riding arena, a restaurant or cafe and small retail uses. DeMasi said the application had been considered by the planning commission multiple times; the applicant revised the project's pattern book to address questions about parking, lighting, noise and hours, and a traffic study led to a recommended southbound left-turn lane and a voluntarily proposed northbound right-turn lane at the site entrance.

A neighbor's attorney, John Michael, urged commissioners to remand the application back to planning citing traffic and land-use concerns and argued that earlier general-plan guidance should apply. "Not all development is good development," John Michael told the commission and asked that the commission consider additional restrictions or conditions to protect adjacent properties.

Applicant Joshua Hein responded that he and his family live on the property, had removed the proposed wedding-venue components, and intended the development to be a low-impact, community-oriented project. "This vision is not a late-night bar environment or a high-volume entertainment district," Hein said, adding the design emphasizes indoor, lower-impact events.

Following staff responses and questions, the commission voted to approve REZ25-010; planning staff noted TDOT approval would be required for any new or improved access on Horton Highway and that an engineered site plan would be required to demonstrate compliance with county and state standards before construction permits would be issued.

Both rezoning measures had been recommended unanimously by the planning commission and were approved by the board.