Gallatin council approves Twin Ponds rezoning after hours of public opposition and added conditions

The Gallatin City Council voted 5–2 Tuesday to approve rezoning for the Twin Ponds subdivision, a proposed R10 planned residential development on about 131.64 acres south of Long Hollow Pike and west of Saint Blaise Road, after a lengthy public comment period and last-minute amendments to the developer's plan.

Residents filled council chambers for a public recognition period that focused almost entirely on Twin Ponds, where dozens of neighbors said the project would overwhelm local roads, strain schools and emergency services, and damage wetlands and wildlife. "This project, as you know, will forever alter the character, safety, and quality of life in our community," resident Eric Shaffer told the council.

The council's approval included several conditions negotiated during the meeting: the developer must increase the minimum size of exterior perimeter lots to at least 11,250 square feet; provide a 50-foot buffer behind the project's amenity area; preserve mature trees where feasible and add berms and evergreen screening where appropriate as determined by planning and engineering during the final master development plan (FMDP) review; and provide, at the time of FMDP, an engineer's letter certifying…