Planning Commission approves Barfield Creek preliminary plat amid outstanding stormwater and floodway questions

The Murfreesboro Planning Commission on May 20 approved a preliminary plat for Barfield Creek, a proposed 16‑lot duplex development on about 15.51 acres along Barfield Road, while engineering staff warned that outstanding stormwater and floodway issues must be resolved before construction can proceed.

Engineering reviewer Katie Knoll told the commission she had received revised drainage calculations that morning but had not yet seen the corrected report with updated volumes to verify the pond sizing. "This project is located in the flood plain and floodway," Knoll said, and she noted that construction in the floodway is only allowed when a flood study demonstrates a no‑rise condition. Knoll stressed that the site’s constrained layout — including multiple retaining walls — means any change to pond sizing could reduce the number of units allowed.

The applicant’s representative told the commission that a no‑rise flood study prepared by Neil Shafer and Mike Phillips shows no rise in flood elevations and that some drainage calculations had been revised; he asked the commission to approve the preliminary plat so the developer could proceed on a constrained federal funding schedule. The applicant also said construction plans and final platting would follow and that final permits would not be issued until staff validated the construction plans and the flood study.

Commissioners acknowledged the timing pressure but emphasized that approval of a preliminary plat does not guarantee final construction approval. Chair Halliburton and staff reiterated that permits and final plat recordation require validated construction plans and flood documentation.

What happens next: The commission approved the preliminary plat subject to staff comments. Engineering staff will verify the revised drainage calculations and the no‑rise flood study during review of construction plans; if calculations change, the pond footprint or lot configuration may need revision before final plat approval.