[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6154782,"mediaKeyId","5483260-5df6a671d649c7defbd1982f68a471cb","parentId",5483260,"title","Commission backs Ovation PUD changes and opens path for possible park-and-ride, but parking-structure location raises conditions","audioSeconds",4954,"startMs",2634000,"endMs",7588000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5483260-5df6a671d649c7defbd1982f68a471cb&start=2634&end=7588","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5483260-5df6a671d649c7defbd1982f68a471cb/thumbnail_2634000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6154782/Franklin-City/Williamson-County/Tennessee/Commission-backs-Ovation-PUD-changes-and-opens-path-for-possible-park-and-ride-but-parking-structure-location-raises-conditions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6154782-aeb3791d3bdfb62391366c2b32857491/orig.mp4?Expires=1770936127&Signature=BICi8uwXwKQXRbN4Q10gLK7LPVys2hJjn0Kt2Neduu9BAdC02WoXmaMeQmsOCZR6MEW4pI0a~xBjlF1u-DMgry-4LUr7FKGpTQluRtQq~JYFlSrp8tCai5zsjRiz2cwGNq4NMMLo6IQH5nuzuOuFqG1Oaxlzb8CZAfHn5EgM1VeZLMMSM1lyDDkPJ5aHkqTLLZPvAphZWi7tvIxfbHM8IzmhTC7baC3yGJnC9aNiceHlpAgy2NNj4rE-07cND7JgRuC8TlzuIh8ZtRkoSPn66Yv3OXK94L~7NDR2KJdNEIQao2PYbrcNbFoKLnzuYQFSuieY~z8-bQcsbXcWzccXhA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Franklin City, TN","date","2025-07-26T19:40:55.417Z","article","The Franklin Municipal Planning Commission on July 24 recommended that the Board of Mayor and Aldermen approve a rezoning and revised development plan for the Ovation planned-unit development at the southeast corner of East McEwen Drive and Carruthers Parkway.

The commission approved eight modification-of-standard requests in stages, including material choices, block-length flexibility and limited retaining-wall exceptions; it approved a request that would allow parking structures parallel to McEwen Drive and Carothers Parkway only with conditions related to pedestrian activation, transit accommodation and enhanced architectural treatment.

Why it matters: Ovation is a large, multi-phase mixed-use project in the Envision Franklin regional commerce designation. The project’s layout, building heights and parking strategy affect traffic patterns on a key regional corridor and could influence future transit investments, including a potential park-and-ride or coach stop.

Staff presentation and project scope
Chelsea, a planner with the City of Franklin Planning Department, described the Ovation submission as a 103.93-acre development proposing 1,594 multifamily units, 69 townhomes, up to 1,655,000 square feet of nonresidential space and 350 hotel rooms. Staff said a shared parking study was submitted that reduces parking demand within the Ovation Parkway loop and that the traffic impact analysis generally supports the applicant’s proposed off-site roadway improvements.

Applicant overview and site approach
Alec Chambers, market leader for Highwoods, and Greg Gamble, representing Highwoods and CenterCal, presented the applicant’s revised master plan. Gamble said the project is not vested (unlike a nearby project) but remains an approved PUD that can still be developed under its existing approvals. He said the revised plan integrates office and commercial uses into a more mixed master plan rather than a single-office block and that the revised plan stays within the parameters of the original 2014 traffic study.

Design features and open space
Gamble described a two-acre central park, ground-floor retail, rooftop dining and a planned 29-acre mountain-bike park and an 11-acre created wetland with boardwalks and educational signage. He noted limits the applicant voluntarily placed on building heights for particular corner buildings and said the developer capped total office square footage for the campus.

Key modification requests and commission action
• Block length (MOS 1): The applicant asked to allow a block perimeter up to 3,600 linear feet around a wetlands/stormwater area. Staff recommended approval; the commission approved.

• Townhouse roof type (MOS 2): Staff supported a request to allow flat roofs with parapets for townhome building types; the commission approved unanimously.

• Storefront transoms/knee walls (MOS 3): The applicant sought flexibility to allow some retail storefronts without transom windows or knee walls. Staff recommended disapproval citing facade-composition standards; the commission ultimately approved a revised motion that removed a strict 50 percent monitoring metric and approved the modification with conditions.

• Materials (MOS 4 and 5): The applicant requested permission to use architectural precast concrete as one of up to three primary facade materials for large office and commercial/mixed-use buildings. Planning staff asked for more detail and examples; the commission approved the requests after discussion that included a presentation on architectural precast and assurances about quality treatment.

• Retaining walls (MOS 6 and 7): Staff recommended and the commission approved removal of required plantings at the base of one retaining wall because an established riparian buffer already provides screening. Commissioners also approved a limited increase for one short retaining-wall segment (up to 22 feet) behind Building J while removing a separate request for a 16-foot wall adjacent to Brookmeadow Lane from consideration.

• Parking-structure siting (MOS 8): The applicant asked to place parking structures parallel to Carothers Parkway and McEwen Drive rather than screening them behind buildings. Staff recommended disapproval unless conditions were met that would provide clear public benefits; the commission approved placement subject to conditions the applicant offered. Those conditions include elevated architectural detailing, base/middle/cap facade composition, pedestrian access and a first-floor activation strategy if the structure supports a regional transit stop or park-and-ride. Commissioners discussed ongoing talks with regional transit provider WeGo and Franklin Transit about a potential park-and-ride; the applicant and staff described those conversations as encouraging but preliminary.

Transit, funding and public benefit discussion
Commissioners and applicants discussed the potential for future transit accommodations to justify parking-structure placement along the arterial streets. Alec Chambers and Greg Gamble said Highwoods and CenterCal have met with local and regional transit providers; the parties noted recent regional funding developments that could make a future park-and-ride or coach stop feasible. Chuck Ganaway of Hastings Architecture presented examples of architectural precast and emphasized its durability and design flexibility.

Votes and next steps
The commission recommended approval of the Ovation rezoning (Ordinance 2025-20) to BOMA and approved the development-plan resolution (Resolution 2025-52) with conditions. Staff and the applicant noted that parkland agreements and final design exhibits will accompany the package when it goes to the BOMA work session.

Ending note
Commissioners repeatedly said they were supportive of exploring regional transit accommodations, but several also urged that any variance from ordinary screening rules for parking structures include firm design and activation commitments to ensure the structures contribute positively to the streetscape rather than becoming unmasked parking slabs.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Franklin, Planning Commission 7-24-2025","oneSentenceSummary","The municipal planning commission recommended approval of rezoning and a revised development plan for the Ovation PUD, approved several material and design exceptions, and debated a request to place parking structures along McEwen Drive and Carruthers Parkway tied to potential regional transit use.","taxTitle","Franklin City, Williamson County, Tennessee","taxId",4577,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6154787,"Planning commission recommends rezoning, approves design changes for Orem PUD on McEwen Drive",2056,569000,2625000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5483260-5df6a671d649c7defbd1982f68a471cb&start=569&end=2625","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5483260-5df6a671d649c7defbd1982f68a471cb/thumbnail_569000.jpg","/articles/6154787/Franklin-City/Williamson-County/Tennessee/Planning-commission-recommends-rezoning-approves-design-changes-for-Orem-PUD-on-McEwen-Drive","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6154787-7fb511f1a02c44a453e6880fb83ad256/orig.mp4?Expires=1770936127&Signature=V6Blog6lNgLWWzHAKqwcHSPcpEy6yKewMKjogjeF06~MtJKjU5luJ8VkfbTP-uyjycRLkBLhKyWEHhGeyTmoB7NMCC3M8APvZ-6ZXqqnFi8s~hUN8POfa0Z86WdB~srKg-WbqdVhIPCgIKe0xJbf415qxdBuH~k-3cp7oE4Cqxc9pvdqdQYcH1hmaBPZMPyjbgU4Wjw3IdcTvh72bjextbm9YDnB3pmdNh~F9L4reEnjmeCFPH7Az~gawxbMDWRLCZpid~U-HYFC1pdW9jbCLm9OFYvq1WbAR4CLsOVS8RR3UEXrVWAHGKZ1-is2mUI5k7L9L3sGZlhoBN-7MGnbcw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Franklin Municipal Planning Commission voted July 24 to recommend that the Board of Mayor and Aldermen rezone and adopt a revised master plan for the Orem planned-unit development south of East McEwen Drive and west of Carruthers Parkway.

The commission approved the rezoning recommendation and then voted, item by item, on four requested modifications of standards for the development plan. Commissioners approved a request to allow pitched or gabled roofs for nonresidential and mixed-use buildings, allowed three digital interactive wayfinding panels limited to interior village-center locations, denied broad approval for new exposed neon/LED sign illumination, and approved string lighting in designated pedestrian areas. Staff told the commission the revised plan would cut projected vehicle trips on the McEwen–Carruthers corridor compared with the earlier entitlements.

Why it matters: The Orem site sits within the city’s Envision Franklin regional commerce design concept, a designation intended for high-intensity, mixed-use centers serving employers and visitors regionwide. The commission’s recommendations set new entitlements and send the package to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BOMA) for final action.

Staff presentation and traffic
Chelsea, a planner with the City of Franklin Planning Department, told the commission the applicant submitted a revised development plan that is vested under the July 2018 zoning ordinance and placed the property within the regional commerce design concept. Staff said the mix of multifamily residential, office and commercial uses in the master plan “meets the intent of the regional commerce design concept.”

Applicant Glenn McGee, developer with South Star, said the project was originally zoned in 2019 but market changes following the pandemic prompted the team to rework the plan. “We kept saying we want an executable plan,” McGee said, explaining the team sought a program that is financeable and buildable now.

Applicant representative Greg Gamble said the revised entitlements change the program on the site to a larger residential component and much less office space than the prior approval. Gamble said the new entitlements reduce traffic impacts by roughly 4,000 average daily trips on the corridor and reduce morning peak trips by about 110 and evening peak trips by about 333 compared with the previously approved plan. “It is a reduction of 4,000 average daily trips,” Gamble said.

Modifications, votes and staff positions
• Roof forms (MOS 1): Staff recommended approval; the commission approved the modification allowing pitched/gabled roofs for specified village-center buildings. The vote was unanimous.

• Digital interactive wayfinding (MOS 2): The applicant asked to allow up to three digital interactive screen panels within the village-center zones shown on the plan. Planning staff pointed to sections of the city sign ordinance that prohibit moving signs and visible exposed neon or LED illumination and recommended disapproval. The commission approved MOS 2 by a 6–2 vote. Commissioners Allen and Williamson voted no.

• Sign illumination (MOS 3): The applicant requested permission for neon/LED as internal illumination or halo effects. Staff recommended disapproval because the vested and current ordinances prohibit visible exposed neon and LED illumination for principal signs. The commission approved MOS 3 by a 6–2 vote (Allen and Williamson no).

• String lighting (MOS 4): The applicant requested to allow string lighting in pedestrian/dining/amenity areas (not over rights-of-way or across fire access lanes). Staff said the more recent ordinance updates allow string lighting; the commission approved the request unanimously.

After the MOS votes, the commission approved the development plan package and recommended approval of the rezoning to BOMA with conditions recommended by staff.

Discussion and constraints
Commissioners and staff discussed the tension between preserving the city’s sign standards and allowing new wayfinding tools and placemaking elements the developer argued were necessary for a modern, mixed-use center. Several commissioners urged the city to consider a broader ordinance update rather than repeatedly granting exceptions for individual projects.

What happens next
The planning commission’s action is a recommendation to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. BOMA will consider the rezoning ordinance and the revised development plan at its work session and vote. The applicant and staff said parkland and other site agreements will be executed to align with the development plan as the project moves forward.

Ending note
The Orem PUD developer said construction on the southern phase — the first phase of residential already approved — is underway; the commission’s recommendation clears the way for the remaining phases to proceed through BOMA review and permitting.","The Franklin Municipal Planning Commission voted to recommend rezoning and approved a revised development plan for the Orem PUD, including changes to roof forms, limited digital wayfinding, sign-illumination rules and string lighting; staff said the new plan reduces projected traffic on the McEwen–Carruthers corridor.","actionData","errors"]

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Commission backs Ovation PUD changes and opens path for possible park-and-ride, but parking-structure location raises conditions

Planning commission recommends rezoning, approves design changes for Orem PUD on McEwen Drive