Commission approves Whites Creek SP amendment for warehouse campus with conditions and open-space preservation
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Summary
A proposed special-plan (SP) amendment to allow a mixed-use warehouse development at 14768 Old Hickory Boulevard was approved with conditions; the applicant will preserve about 44% of the 34-acre site as open space and work with multiple agencies on stormwater and potential road improvements.
The Planning Commission approved with conditions an SP amendment and rezoning request for a roughly 34-acre site at 14768 Old Hickory Boulevard to permit a mixed-use development with up to 208,000 square feet of nonresidential uses.
Laszlo (staff) summarized the plan: the site currently contains two single-family homes and a warehouse with heavy truck repair uses; the proposed plan locates a large warehouse and related nonresidential uses on approximately 19 acres of the site and leaves about 44% of the property undisturbed, including conserved tree canopy and open space. The proposed warehouse building would be up to 45 feet tall; the plan includes a 20-foot landscape buffer (widening in places) adjacent to neighboring properties and dedicates right-of-way as required by the Major and Collector Street Plan (MCSP).
Developer Andrew Mazy of Brennan Investment Group told commissioners the project underwent multiple community meetings and that the developer aims to preserve significant trees and limit disturbance. "We're proud that we're only disturbing 50% of the property," Mazy said, adding that much of the disturbed area will be placed under a tree canopy preservation easement. Community residents and Whites Creek advocates spoke to traffic and flooding concerns near the Old Hickory Boulevard driveway; the applicant's civil engineer said the project team will continue to work with Metro stormwater, TDEC and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers where jurisdictional wetlands and streams intersect the proposed drive location.
Staff found the proposed nonresidential uses consistent with surrounding heavy manufacturing, auto-repair and warehousing operations and said the plan strikes a balance with conservation by protecting much of the site's steep slopes and tree canopy. The project will return for final site plan review where stormwater and traffic details will be assessed and additional mitigations required as appropriate.
Commissioner Henley moved to approve with staff conditions; the motion carried.
