Murfreesboro City Council voted on April 17 to grant serial sewer allocation variances for two future lots on North Thompson Lane that applicants say will be used for restaurants. The council approved an additional sanitary sewer capacity equal to six single-family-equivalent units for future Lot 2 and 28 single-family-equivalent units for future Lot 3.

Why it matters: Granting sewer allocation is a prerequisite in the city’s process for applicants who want to pursue planning and site-plan review. Council members voiced concern about existing traffic congestion at the Sam Walton Drive/Thompson Lane corridor and asked that traffic impacts be considered during the upcoming planning reviews.

What the council approved and the votes
- Lot 2: additional capacity equivalent to 6 single-family units to serve a proposed restaurant (applicant seeks to demolish a building formerly used as a clinic/skate park). Water Resources confirmed basin capacity is available. Vote: 5–1 (Councilmember Maxwell voted Nay).
- Lot 3: additional capacity equivalent to 28 single-family units for a proposed restaurant. Water Resources confirmed capacity available. Vote: 5–1 (Councilmember Maxwell voted Nay).

Discussion and clarifying points
- Council members, including Mayor Shane McFarland, and staff noted significant existing traffic backups in the corridor and asked that traffic and circulation be considered at the planning-commission site-plan review.
- Staff said the city’s process generally requires applicants to secure a serial allocation variance before submitting a site plan to the Planning Commission; a site plan review will be the forum for detailed traffic analysis and access management discussion.
- Applicant representatives noted plans to realign extensions (Sam Walton Drive tie-ins) and to provide access easements intended to improve circulation for adjacent properties.

Quotes from the meeting
“I’m gonna be a no just because I think we’ve got enough restaurants, and I would love to have seen this in a way because we need more pools and recreational facilities. So I’m gonna be a no on this,” said one councilmember (M. Maxwell) before casting a Nay on the Lot 2 variance.

Next steps: The sewer allocation approvals allow the applicant (Green Trails Trout LLC per staff) to submit site plans to the Planning Commission. Planning review will evaluate traffic, parking, access, and stormwater before any building permits are issued.

Ending: Council recorded one dissent on both variances but otherwise approved the sewer capacity to permit applicants to proceed to planning. Staff and applicants said traffic circulation improvements and access easements will be further evaluated during site-plan review.