Murfreesboro Planning Commission approves multiple site plans, sets public hearings for Buc‑ee’s sign overlay and Elam Road annexation

The Murfreesboro Planning Commission on May 20 approved a series of site‑plan and preliminary‑plat actions and scheduled public hearings for large signage at a proposed Buc‑ee’s and for an annexation of land on Elam Road.

The commission voted to approve the final design and site plan for Nelson Mazda Murfreesboro’s 6,027‑square‑foot office and vehicle preparation building and overflow inventory parking on John R. Rice Boulevard, subject to staff comments. The body also approved a site plan for two speculative warehouse buildings at Cummings Corner (roughly 300,000 square feet across 20.1 acres) with one recorded abstention, and it approved the Barfield Creek preliminary plat for 16 duplex lots on 15.51 acres subject to staff conditions.

The commission set a public hearing for June 3 on a plan sign overlay application for roughly 30.17 acres at 3355 Elam Road submitted by Bucky’s/Buc‑ee’s that would allow nonstandard, much larger signage (including a proposed 125‑foot ground sign and other oversized sign faces). The body also set a public hearing for July 1 on an annexation petition for approximately 10.97 acres along Elam Road (applicant N G Elam LLC). In addition, the commission scheduled a June 3 public hearing on a staff‑proposed zoning ordinance amendment adding a 300‑foot separation between automotive repair/service uses and requiring repair activities to occur indoors.

Staff reports: Planning Department staff reported continued CityWorks rollout following an April 16 go‑live for some case types, an ongoing SOP/workload study with Thrivent Consultants, work to automate public dashboards from CityWorks data, design‑guideline updates, and recruiting for three planning positions.

Votes at a glance

- Mazda office (final design/site plan): approved, motion passed by roll call (6–0).
- Cummings Corner (site plan for two warehouse buildings): approved subject to staff comments; recorded abstention (5 ayes, 0 no, 1 abstain).
- Barfield Creek (preliminary plat, 16 lots): approved subject to staff comments (6–0).
- St. Karas Coptic Orthodox Church (accessory classroom site plan): approved subject to staff comments (6–0).
- Buc‑ee’s PSO (plan sign overlay): motion to set public hearing for June 3 approved (6–0).
- Elam Road annexation (≈10.97 acres): motion to set public hearing for July 1 approved (6–0).
- Zoning ordinance amendment (automotive repair/service standards): motion to set public hearing for June 3 approved (6–0).

What’s next: Most approvals were conditioned on staff comments; applicants will return with revised materials or construction plans for staff review, and the scheduled public hearings (June 3 and July 1) will allow public testimony on the sign overlay and annexation items.