Nolensville Planning Commission approves Annecy landscaping amendment, sets extended maintenance bond with tree-planting condition

The Nolensville Planning Commission on June 10 approved an as‑installed landscape plan amendment for the Annecy subdivision and took three separate bond actions affecting the development.

Town staff recommended approval of the as‑installed landscape plan amendment, saying it minimizes disruption to residents and reduces town maintenance obligations if the bond were called. "Town staff recommends that the Planning Commission approve the As Installed Landscape Plan Amendment," staff said during the meeting.

The amendment follows a petition from Annecy residents who opposed removing street trees they have come to expect in front yards. Emily Coulter, an Annecy resident, told the commission she and neighbors collected signatures stating, "we do not want the trees removed." Two other residents, Josh O'Dell and Hannah Madison, also voiced support for the amendment.

Commissioners expressed frustration with the developer's repeated departures from approved plans but said they were voting to protect residents. One commissioner said the decision was made "because of the residents and only because of the residents," while others thanked staff and residents for collaborating on a compromise. The commission approved the as‑installed landscape plan amendment unanimously.

The commission then addressed bond actions for multiple Annecy phases. For Annecy Phase 1, staff recommended transitioning the Phase 1 performance bond in the amount of $1,033,963.92 to a maintenance bond. Commissioners debated whether to move to maintenance before remaining planting work was complete and whether planting in the summer would be appropriate. After discussion the commission amended the motion to require that remaining trees be planted between October 2025 and February 2026 and set the maintenance period to end Feb. 28, 2027. The main motion as amended passed 4‑1.

For Annecy Phase 3B the commission declined to transition to maintenance and instead extended the Phase 3B performance bond, amount $139,290.80, for six months to Dec. 30, 2025. The extension followed staff notes that Phase 3B still had work to complete (7 street trees, 19 root barriers and related seed/sod) and commissioners expressed concern about granting additional long extensions. The amendment to limit the extension to six months passed unanimously; the main motion as amended passed unanimously.

For Annecy Phase 3C the commission kept the Phase 3C performance bond (amount $245,146) in place and set the date to Dec. 30, 2025. That motion passed unanimously.

Discussion and staff comments clarified process options: under the town's older zoning code, a maintenance bond typically covers workmanship and warranty for one year and is used after construction is substantially complete; a performance bond covers required construction work. Staff said some lots (four were noted) remain undeveloped in the subdivision and some improvements can lawfully be covered during a maintenance period if the town engineer approves. Commissioners also discussed incentives for the developer to finish work so the bond can be released.

Votes at a glance - Annecy as‑installed landscape plan amendment: motion to approve — outcome: approved unanimously. - Annecy Phase 1: transition performance bond $1,033,963.92 to maintenance bond until Feb. 28, 2027, contingent on all remaining trees being planted Oct. 2025–Feb. 2026 — outcome: approved 4‑1. - Annecy Phase 3B: extend performance bond $139,290.80 for six months to Dec. 30, 2025 — outcome: approved unanimously. - Annecy Phase 3C: retain performance bond $245,146 until Dec. 30, 2025 — outcome: approved unanimously.

The commission indicated it would perform site visits in October to verify plantings and other remaining improvements and that maintenance or further enforcement steps would be available if work remained incomplete at the end of the maintenance or extended performance periods.