Planning commission approves Silicon Ranch site plan, two rezoning requests and forwards home‑occupation change to county commission

At the meeting the Hickman County Planning Commission voted on four formal items: a final site plan for a solar project, two rezoning requests from A‑1 to R‑1, and an amendment to the county home‑occupation standards.

Silicon Ranch (site plan approval, Northlick Creek): Planning staff reported the applicant had provided a TDEC Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program permit and that no changes had been made to the site plan since the prior submission. Commissioner Keith Nash moved approval; Commissioner Danny Clark seconded. The commission approved the final site plan by roll call (tally: yes 12, no 0, abstain 0).

Rezoning — 9010 McFarland Road (Dylan Jenkins, A‑1 to R‑1): The applicant requested a rezoning to allow a multi‑unit plan on property noted in the planned growth area. Staff and the applicant discussed road frontage, existing mobile home removal, and septic capacity. A motion to approve passed on roll call (tally: yes 12, no 0, abstain 0). Commissioners noted the rezoning, if approved by the county commission, would still require further permitting steps (septic permits, BZA or other site‑level approvals) before additional units could be occupied.

Rezoning — Vaughn Lane / Prince Springs Road area (Dylan Jenkins, A‑1 to R‑1): A separate A‑1→R‑1 request in the same general corridor was presented; the applicant said the plan is not to subdivide but to allow additional units pending septic approval. Commissioner Keith Nash moved approval; a second was recorded. The commission approved the rezoning by roll call (tally: yes 12, no 0, abstain 0). Staff reminded the applicant that county commission hearings and other procedural steps remain before final building approvals.

Resolution 25‑23 (home‑occupation vehicle/weight language): Commissioners discussed replacing specific gross‑vehicle‑weight references in home‑occupation standards with a provision that the Board of Zoning Appeals determine whether the roads providing access to the home occupation “shall be of sufficient classification, construction and right‑of‑way.” The change is intended to give the BZA discretion to assess local conditions rather than apply a single vehicle‑weight threshold. The planning commission voted to forward the amendment to the county commission (tally recorded as yes 11, no 0, abstain 0).

Ending: Each zoning change approved by the planning commission must still proceed through public notice and two readings before the county commission and, when applicable, additional permitting and BZA review. Staff and applicants were reminded about posting, public notices and the multi‑step timeline for final approvals.