Planning Commission approves hotel, housing, industrial site plans and multiple easement actions

The Planning Commission on Jan. 15 approved a series of site plans and mandatory-referral easement actions, including a 65,000-square-foot Fairfield by Marriott hotel, a 29-unit multi-family development by the Murfreesboro Housing Authority, a 23,346-square-foot office and warehouse for Titan Material Handling, and two utility-easement actions related to Stonebridge at 3 Rivers and the city’s Town Creek project.

Miss Smith, planning department staff, said the Fairfield by Marriott application is at final design and site-plan review and that "almost all comments have been addressed at this time," asking that any approval be made subject to the remaining staff comments. The commission voted to approve that application with the standard condition that outstanding staff comments be resolved.

The commission also approved Mercury Park Blocks 45, a Murfreesboro Housing Authority project for 29 multi-family units on about 3.12 acres along Hancock Street and Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Miss Smith described the project as a continuation of a previously approved planned development that includes two-story and three-story products, pocket parks, a Rover bus stop, on-site mail kiosks and a mix of trash collection approaches (individual poly-cart pull-outs on one side and a commercial dumpster enclosure on the other). Thomas Rowe of the Housing Authority was present for questions.

Titan Material Handling’s proposed 23,346-square-foot office and warehouse on roughly 3.14 acres on West Rutherford Boulevard also received approval. Miss Smith noted the site sits at the current end of West Rutherford but that long-range city plans show future street extensions; she said the city would be responsible for future connections should the roadway be extended.

On mandatory-referral items, Mr. Donovan presented a request to abandon part of a sanitary-sewer easement in Stonebridge at 3 Rivers (phase 2C), explaining the easement was recorded in 2007 and the proposed abandonment removes conflicts with the phase’s proposed buildings. Staff said the Water Resources Board will review the abandonment on Jan. 28 and recommended the commission forward a recommendation to City Council subject to Water Resources Board review, legal review, and the applicant’s responsibility for preparing and recording the necessary instruments.

Mr. Moore summarized the Town Creek mandatory-referral package, describing two parallel requests: (1) authority to negotiate a conservation easement with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) so the city can obtain the Aquatic Resources Alteration Permit (ARAP) needed to do in-stream work; and (2) dedication and abandonment of multiple utility and drainage easements along the Town Creek corridor. Moore said the proposed conservation easement would cover about 2.3 acres of city-owned land along the stream corridor and would restrict certain land uses while preserving city maintenance rights. He noted SBW Constructors was awarded the construction contract in December and that ARAP-related negotiations with TDEC and approval by the city attorney and City Council will follow.

Most actions were approved by voice vote with no recorded dissent; several were explicitly approved "subject to staff comments". Commissioners who recorded "aye" during the roll calls included Miss Abelwater (also transcribed as variations of that name), Mister Carroll, Vice Chair Halliburton, Mister Prince and Mister Wright; later roll-call confirmations show the same core group voting in favor of subsequent items.

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda: approved (voice motion and second; unanimous recorded "aye" responses). - Fairfield by Marriott final design/site plan (65,000 sq ft, 4 stories; 2.69 acres; zone MU/GDO1 at Robert Rose Drive): approved, subject to remaining staff comments; vote recorded as unanimous "aye." - Mercury Park Blocks 45 (29 multi-family units in 8 buildings; 3.12 acres; PUD along Hancock St./Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.; Murfreesboro Housing Authority): approved, subject to staff comments; vote recorded as unanimous "aye." - Titan Material Handling site plan (23,346 sq ft office/warehouse; ~3.14 acres; Light Industrial on West Rutherford Blvd.; Titan Material Handling Inc.): approved, subject to staff comments; vote recorded as unanimous "aye." - Abandonment of portion of sanitary sewer easement (Stonebridge at 3 Rivers, phase 2C; applicant: SCC Inc. on behalf of AR Nashville LLC): commission recommended approval to City Council subject to Water Resources Board review, legal review and applicant recording quitclaim; vote recorded as unanimous "aye." - Town Creek miscellaneous easement actions and proposed conservation easement (City of Murfreesboro applicant; ARAP negotiations with TDEC; contract awarded to SBW Constructors): commission approved staff request to negotiate the conservation easement and to proceed with proposed easement dedications/abandonments; motion passed with unanimous recorded "aye."

Other business and housekeeping Commissioners agreed to cancel the Feb. 5 meeting because there were no items ready for public hearing; staff reminded commissioners of the Jan. 31 financial-disclosure deadline. The commission also acknowledged that Roman Hankins is leaving the city’s legal department; commissioners and staff offered thanks and best wishes.

The approvals recorded at the Jan. 15 meeting are subject where noted to further administrative steps: resolving staff comments, Water Resources Board and City Council review for easement abandonment, legal review of instruments, and recording of required deeds or instruments by the applicants.

Ending Affected projects will return to administrative review, City Council or permitting bodies as required; staff will track outstanding comments and the Water Resources Board/TDEC steps noted above.