Commission reviews site plan for Lewis Edge Commercial Plaza spec building; neighbors raise water, noise and permitted-uses concerns

Sumner County planning staff presented a site-plan application for a 10,000-square-foot speculative commercial building at 135 West Broadway within the Lewis Edge Commercial Plaza PUD that the County Commission approved in March 2021.

Staff said proposed allowable uses remain consistent with the previously approved PUD; during pre-application meetings the developer discussed automotive and construction sales and services as likely occupants. Staff outlined required next steps if commissioners approve the site plan: county engineer approval, land‑disturbance permits and a TDEC notice of intent/coverage and building permits must be obtained prior to construction.

Residents and an identified neighborhood spokesperson raised several concerns. Charlotte Trove, who described herself as “one of the very next residents of the lot” and the neighborhood spokesperson, questioned the number of parking spaces, the presence of roll-up doors or truck docks and said many neighbors rely on private wells or springs and were concerned about water quality and notification. She asked whether certain retail uses (alcohol, cannabis) could be removed from the allowable-uses table; the applicant’s attorney said he had not discussed that restriction with his client and could not make that commitment at the meeting.

Staff and the applicant responded to technical questions: a septic soils map and a septic permit were provided (staff showed a permit dated March 14 for the PUD), and applicants said the septic permit allows up to 19 employees. The applicant said the project will meet or exceed county stormwater requirements, including proposed detention that, in their words, “cuts flow rates in half” and includes a long-term stormwater maintenance agreement to be recorded with the property.

Architectural elevations and a truck-turning exhibit were shown; the proposed plan includes bay/garage doors at the rear of the building but no loading docks in current submitted plans. Staff said parking and circulation will be validated by county engineering during construction-permit review.

Why it matters: the site sits along a corridor with prior PUD commitments and existing nearby homes. The commission must balance the PUD’s allowed commercial uses with neighbor concerns about onsite septic, stormwater, traffic and long-term maintenance obligations.