Westmoreland City Council annexes farm property after public hearing on runoff and infrastructure

Westmoreland City Council approved Resolution R112024-2 on second reading on Feb. 20, 2025, annexing a large rural property referred to in the meeting as "Good on the Farms." The council voted unanimously after a public hearing in which nearby residents said clearing and recent work on the parcel have increased runoff and damaged downstream fences, culverts and pastures.

The annexation recognizes the property as within Westmoreland City limits; it does not itself approve any development plans. A city staff member told the council the annexation is being considered based on how the land "sits currently" and that any future subdivision or change of use would require separate rezoning, the submission of development plans, environmental review and approval from the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation (TDEC).

During the public comment period, Tim Harper, a resident who said his property is downstream from the parcel, described repeated flooding he attributes to tree removal and site work on the farm. "When they take out all the trees, there's no place for this water to go," Harper said. "It takes out my fence, my hay, my culvert — my trailer, my boat docks." He urged the council to consider downstream impacts before approving annexation.

Another resident, Matt Taylor, said he deliberately bought property outside city limits and questioned whether Westmoreland has the existing infrastructure to support additional development. "I'm 99% sure not all residents of the city limits have access to sewage...not all residents have access to natural gas," Taylor said. He said annexation should provide clear, immediate benefits to those being annexed rather than primarily producing more tax revenue for the city.

A city staff member responded that the annexation only changes the property’s municipal boundary and the services the city would provide to the parcel as it currently stands (police, fire, water and sewer). The staff member said developers must submit environmental impact studies and receive TDEC approval for plans that might alter runoff or require stream restoration. The staff member also said some work on the property that residents blamed for runoff was performed by the landowner while the land was outside city limits.

The council discussed that portions of the property are intended for environmental conservation and that the landowner has indicated some areas likely will remain undeveloped for hunting during the owner’s lifetime. Council members said future development proposals could be denied if they fail to meet the city's land-use rules.

Councilman Calvert moved to approve Resolution R112024-2; Councilman Brown seconded. The roll call vote recorded unanimous approval.

The annexation now places the parcel inside city limits; any developer plans, rezoning requests or phased infrastructure work will return to planning and zoning and to the council for separate review and approval.

Votes and next steps: the resolution passed unanimously; planning and zoning review and required state environmental approvals would be needed before any development could proceed.