Wilson County commission approves resolution asking Mount Juliet to annex East Division stretch amid multifamily development

Commissioners voted Sept. 4 to send a resolution to the Mount Juliet City Planning Commission asking the city to annex a roughly 4,400-foot stretch of East Division Road where commissioners said multifamily development is planned.

Mister Franken raised the issue after attending a Mount Juliet planning meeting and described ongoing multifamily construction near East Division. Franken said developers had asked the city to obtain right-of-way work but were not seeking annexation of the road segment. "They're not annexing the road," Franken said, and described a cluster of developments that he said would add substantial traffic onto East Division.

Mister Dowd moved to send a resolution requesting that Mount Juliet annex the section or otherwise secure permission to access the county road; a motion was seconded and commissioners voted in favor with an "aye" call. The meeting record did not show a roll-call vote or a recorded tally of individual commissioners' votes.

Commissioners discussed that annexation could change tax obligations for residents living along the road and that city and county responsibilities for road maintenance and right-of-way would need to be clarified. One commissioner said residents along the stretch should be made aware their taxes might increase if annexation occurs.

Speakers noted that portions of East Division already pass in and out of Mount Juliet and Wilson County jurisdiction and that the county's approval alone might not force annexation. County staff and a commissioner said the county's resolution would be sent to Mount Juliet and that the city would determine whether to proceed with annexation.

The motion's immediate effect is to transmit the county's resolution to Mount Juliet planning officials; no annexation or change in road ownership took place during the meeting.