Commission conditions Bulldog Drive plat approval on access easement for adjacent school parcel

The Planning Commission on Aug. 7 approved a final plat for the Bulldog Drive development (Kroger parcel) and addressed a contested item tied to a 30‑acre parcel donated to Rutherford County Schools.

Staff had recommended the developer grant an access easement from the development across private property to the donated 30‑acre tract to preserve options in case the school or future owners needed a secondary access. The developer asked that the easement not be required now, arguing the county intended to absorb and use the donated parcel in a manner that would make the easement unnecessary. Planning staff responded that if the school ultimately sells the property, lack of an easement could impede future access and would limit options for the town and school system.

After discussion, commissioners agreed to include a requirement in the approval that the developer provide a public access easement, with the exact location “to be determined” and tied to topography and feasibility; staff said the easement could terminate earlier if city topo or other constraints made the original alignment impractical. The developer indicated that the donation parcel is currently accessible from the school property via a gravel access used for school activities, but recording an easement would preserve broader options should the parcel be sold or reused.

The motion approving the final plat included staff comments and the access‑easement requirement; the commission approved the motion.

Next steps: developer and staff to record the plat and finalize easement language and location consistent with topographic and utility constraints before issuance of building permits or other approvals that depend on the plat.