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Commission approves modified driveway plan for Carruthers House with city‑requirements condition
Summary
The Historic Zoning Commission approved a revised driveway and accessible parking plan for 1343 Huffines Ridge Drive (the John Henry Carruthers House) after the applicant agreed to meet City of Franklin engineering and fire requirements; staff recommended approval with conditions.
The Franklin Historic Zoning Commission on Feb. 10 approved a revised driveway and accessible parking plan for 1343 Huffines Ridge Drive, known as the John Henry Carruthers House, but added a condition that the plan must meet City of Franklin requirements before building permits are issued.
Staff said the property is a local landmark listed on the National Register in 1989 and that the proposal incorporates Design Review Committee feedback from prior 2024 meetings. The updated design would place a 12‑foot chip‑sealed drive close to the tree line to preserve the view shed and avoid historic rock walls; it leads to accessible parking and a turnaround and moves the accessible route from a long ramp to a more compact drive‑in solution.
Franklin fire review raised a concern that a 12‑foot drive would not meet minimum emergency access widths; staff recommended approval with conditions. Greg Gamble, representing the applicant, said previous conversations with fire indicated acceptance of a narrower drive but asked the commission to change condition number 1 to require compliance with ‘‘all City of Franklin requirements’’ in place of a fixed 20‑foot minimum, so the applicant could work with engineering and fire on final dimensions. The commission adopted that approach: it approved the project with staff comments and revised condition 1 to require the application to meet City of Franklin requirements (including any minimum driveway width required by the city) prior to permit issuance.
The approval preserves the design intent — a narrow drive sited to protect trees and historic walls — while ensuring fire and engineering sign‑off during the city’s site‑plan process. Preservation staff indicated they can participate in subsequent engineering discussions to maintain preservation goals as the design is finalized.
Votes at a glance - Approve driveway, accessible parking, and turnaround at 1343 Huffines Ridge Drive with staff comments; condition 1 revised to require meeting all City of Franklin requirements prior to permit issuance — outcome: approved.
