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Commission denies rezoning request for 1635 Highway 109 North after neighbor safety concerns
Summary
The commission unanimously denied a request to rezone 2.5 acres at 1635 Highway 109 North from R-1 rural residential to C-1 neighborhood commercial after hearing resident testimony about road safety and a commissioner citing lack of a clear community benefit.
Wilson County commissioners voted unanimously Monday to deny an application to rezone 2.5 acres at 1635 Highway 109 North from R-1 rural residential to C-1 neighborhood commercial.
Planning staff told the commission the case had been submitted to the City of Lebanon Regional Planning Commission on March 25, 2025, and the city planning commission had given an unfavorable recommendation. The applicant, doing business as Hall and Richmond Group LLC, sought a land-use change in the city to low‑intensity retail/service; the city later provided a positive recommendation at its May 20 meeting, but county planning recommended denial.
Commissioner Rich said he would "agree with the city planning" recommendation to deny at this time because the commission had not been presented with a plan that clearly benefits the community. "Any time that we're considering a property like this, I would absolutely like to know that it benefits our community and doesn't cause a detriment," he said.
Several nearby residents told the commission they opposed commercial rezoning because of safety and traffic concerns on Highway 109. Jason Hoffman, who said his property adjoins the area, said he opposed rezoning. Sandy Hoffman, another nearby property owner, told the commission that Highway 109 is a dangerous road and that additional commercial driveways would increase traffic and large trucks in the corridor. She also said several residential properties serve as a buffer for wildlife and that existing and proposed development (including a future Walmart development mentioned by a speaker) raised concerns about traffic planning and lighting.
The commissioners moved and seconded a motion to deny the rezoning; the denial passed unanimously. The record shows the request was for Parcel 13 on Wilson County tax map 70.
The denial leaves the property at its current R-1 designation; any future application for commercial zoning would need to address the planning concerns and provide details showing community benefit and traffic/access solutions.
