Franklin board agrees 7-1 to study annexation of nearly 494 acres along Murfreesboro Road

The Franklin Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted 7-1 Tuesday to advance a proposal for study that could lead to annexing 493.87 acres along Murfreesboro Road and North Chapel Road into Franklin.

The vote authorized staff to prepare a draft plan of services and further study the feasibility of annexing the property; it did not annex the land or change zoning. A motion to send the proposal to the plan-of-services stage was seconded by Alderman Brown and passed with Alderman Peterson the sole no vote.

Why it matters: The parcel—partly within the city’s urban growth boundary—covers nearly 494 acres and includes land designated in the city’s Envision Franklin plan as rural reserve, conservation design along Mays Creek and a small neighborhood-commercial node. Staff and speakers said the study is necessary to understand whether the city can extend sewer service, provide police and fire protection, and fund road and other infrastructure improvements before any annexation or development decisions.

City staff outlined the scope of what the plan-of-services study will examine. Chelsea, a city staff member presenting the report, said the request covers 493.87 acres, is noncontiguous to city limits and lies about 0.36 miles from the city boundary. She said roughly 332 acres are currently designated rural reserve, about 33 acres lie in a conservation-design area near Mays Creek’s floodplain, and roughly 21 acres are shown as neighborhood commercial in the land-use concept. Chelsea told the board the property “would require sewer extension, potential roadway improvements, a new fire station in the area, and additional personnel and equipment” for police, fire and other city departments. She also noted that state law will require an interlocal agreement with Williamson County for emergency services and road maintenance for intervening properties.

Residents and stakeholders urged differing outcomes during a public hearing that drew more than a dozen speakers. Several nearby residents raised flooding and watershed concerns. Janet Curtis, a North Chapel Road resident, told the board, “Mace Creek runs 3 miles long from the Harpeth River to Wilson Pike. It also is 3 is a half mile wide. If that area is cleared of trees that it'll flood the lower half of North Chapel Road.” Karen Smith, another nearby resident, asked for an environmental-impact study before any development and said trees near floodplain areas “help mitigate flooding and provide clean water that flows into Mays Creek into the Harpeth River.”

Others focused on public-safety and traffic impacts. Jeff Goodspeed, a retired police sergeant, said higher density in an isolated island would increase calls and extend response times and questioned whether existing water-flow rates would support commercial sprinklers and hydrants. Bill Petty, Williamson County commissioner for District 10 (speaking for himself), and other residents cited congestion on Highway 96 and near the 65/96 interchange as reasons to study road impacts.

Supporters of studying the request and some property owners argued the proposal could preserve significant open space and help extend infrastructure into the Mays (Maze) Creek basin. Walter Chisholm, who said he lives on Murfreesboro Road, said the project would preserve about 70% of open space “as I understand it.” Jeff Hines, the planner/engineer of record for the Smith family (the applicant), described an overall density of about 2.74 units per acre and called the plan “a much better solution” than widespread one- or two-acre lots. Hines also said the team is studying a special infrastructure-assessment district as a tool to fund sewer and other capital work.

During deliberations, Alderman Burger said the plan-of-services exercise is the board’s mechanism for “doing our due diligence” and stressed the study will supply information about water, sewer, safety and road capacity before any annexation vote. Vice Mayor Potts said preserving roughly 70% open space and evaluating a special infrastructure district were among the reasons to support a study. Alderman Peterson voiced concerns and ultimately cast the single no vote.

The motion to study the annexation passed 7-1. Board members who voted yes were Aldermen Barnhill, Blanton, Caesar, Burger, Brown, Vice Mayor Potts and Baggett; Alderman Peterson voted no. City staff will prepare the draft plan of services and studies identified in the presentation; no annexation or zoning action was taken Tuesday.

The board also heard many comments about the broader pace and location of growth in eastern Franklin, and residents asked the city to inspect local road capacity and flood risk in any follow-up work. Staff repeatedly urged that the plan-of-services work is intended to identify costs and infrastructure needs and that an interlocal agreement with Williamson County would be required to address services to intervening properties.

Next steps: Staff will prepare the draft plan of services and return findings to the board; any future annexation or zoning decision would be a separate action after the plan-of-services review is complete.