The Williamson County Regional Planning Commission on a voice vote approved concept plans for the Village at Triune East and the Village at Triune West, two mixed‑use developments planned near Murfreesboro Road and Horton Highway in the Triune area.

The approvals come with conditions in the staff reports requiring developers to satisfy wastewater site plan conditions, obtain Tennessee Department of Transportation and county approvals for off‑site traffic work, and construct 12‑foot paved multimodal greenway trails (with public access easements) before final plats are submitted for the sections where they are located.

Why it matters: The two plans will guide how the rapidly growing eastern portion of Williamson County develops — shaping road improvements, trail connections and how the community’s rural, equestrian character is preserved or altered.

Triune East (Item 13) covers about 63.78 acres and shows a conservation subdivision of 61 single‑family lots and a 62‑unit townhome area (density 1.93 dwelling units per acre). Staff told the commission water service will be provided by the Nolensville‑College Grove Utility District and wastewater will rely on a nontraditional wastewater treatment and disposal system. Kayla Ferguson, the county’s traffic consultant, described recommended off‑site traffic improvements that include a new unsignalized access on State Route 96 and signalization and lane‑work at Malachi Lane, including a continuous right‑turn lane and a southbound left‑turn lane into Malachi Lane. Ferguson said some turn lanes shown in the study are warranted only under full build‑out assumptions but have been reviewed with TDOT.

Will Crunk, representing the applicant, told the commission the developer intends to install the left‑turn lane on Highway 96 during initial residential work "even though it's not warranted until the future commercial areas dictated," and said the team is pursuing an eastbound right‑turn lane with TDOT.

Triune West (Item 14) covers about 156.26 acres and shows 103 single‑family lots and 130 townhome units (density 1.47 dwelling units per acre). Staff recommended approval with similar conditions, including design review by TDOT and the Williamson County Highway Department and coordination on wastewater and greenway construction. Ferguson summarized the west‑side traffic requirements as including unsignalized Highway 96 access with left and right turn lanes, signal work at Malachi Lane, and additional right‑in/right‑out tie‑ins to Horton Highway.

Public comments and equestrian access: Several residents urged the commission to protect existing green spaces, tree cover and the area’s equestrian heritage. Ginger Sherling, who said she served on the Triune Special Area Advisory Committee, said "the overwhelming sentiment among the residents was a strong desire to safeguard our green spaces, our rural heritage, and the agricultural enterprise in any future development plans." Penny Kimble, who identified the Triune Saddle Club and the area’s horse culture as central to Triune’s identity, urged integrating equestrian elements into design.

Commissioners and staff discussed how the greenway trails will function for equestrians. Staff said the concept plans depict 12‑foot paved multimodal trails and that those trails "don't necessarily equate to equestrians," but the county’s greenways consultant and staff will explore options to incorporate equestrian trails into the larger Greenways Master Plan. The developer confirmed the trails shown on the plans will be open to the public and said easements for public access will be incorporated at the plat stage.

Access and landlocked parcels: Multiple landowners and residents asked the commission to ensure affected parcels retain legal access. Will Crunk explained a revised access layout intended to provide a public road linking into adjoining parcels so owners to the south will have access without relying solely on expensive stream crossings; he also said some parcels have frontage on Highway 96.

Commission action: A motion to approve each concept plan "per staff recommendations" passed by voice vote. The approvals include conditions requiring final design approval by TDOT and the county, construction of required turn lanes and repaving as required by the Highway Department, compliance with the wastewater site plan before platting, and construction of the greenway segments prior to final plat submission in the sections where the trail is located.

What’s next: Staff told commissioners that after adoption of the Triune Special Area policies the county will continue work on a countywide Greenways master plan. Developers must return with preliminary and final plats and the required design approvals before any construction begins.