Franklin board defers Harlan PUD after hours of resident opposition over Hillview Lane and traffic

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen unanimously voted to defer consideration of multiple items related to the proposed Harlan planned unit development, including annexation and zoning, until the board’s Aug. 12 meeting after a public hearing that drew dozens of residents.

Christina Garner, a Hillview Lane resident, told the board: “Infrastructure is not there. Please don’t destroy our road. We like where we live. Please don’t do it.” Neighbors questioned whether Hillview Lane and nearby Columbia Pike and Mack Hatcher could safely absorb the additional daily traffic and urged preservation of the lane’s tree canopy and historic character.

The board’s action deferred items 5–11, which staff described as a package including a plan of services for annexation, zoning to planned PD, approval of a development plan and several related city contracts including road and parkland impact and offset agreements. Mayor Ken Moore opened the first public hearing; the motion to refer the items to Aug. 12 carried on a unanimous roll call.

Multiple speakers from Hillview Lane, Sullivan Farms and adjacent neighborhoods emphasized traffic, safety and preservation. Resident Jean (Gene) Lovell said residents would oppose the project in any form: “If the citizens who are directly or indirectly impacted by this development simply don’t want it… it would be overwhelming.” Blair Garner and others said they had circulated a petition; one speaker told the board that, as of the meeting, 722 signatures had been collected in opposition.

Greg Gamble, a land planning consultant working with Boyle (the applicant), said the development team had submitted an extensive traffic study that had been reviewed by city and county consultants. “Boyle is contributing about 3 to 4 times the amount of money to roadway infrastructure with the Harlan development than the $4,500,000 roadway impact fees that are generated by the developer,” Gamble said, and asked for the deferral so the applicant could strengthen the timing and conditions (referred to in the plan as condition 30) tying required improvements to subsequent phases.

Vice Mayor Olin Potts, who represents the ward with directly affected residents, said he would act as a conduit to ensure accurate facts are shared with neighbors and asked the developer to schedule more meetings. “Make sure that the citizens of Franklin have the facts,” Potts said. Several aldermen described the deferral as an opportunity to negotiate clearer conditions ensuring Hillview Lane is not damaged, to coordinate Columbia Avenue improvements, and to preserve city leverage over hilltop and infrastructure protections that would not exist if the project were built under existing county zoning.

What the board decided: the governing body voted unanimously to defer items 5–11 concerning the Harlan PUD to the Aug. 12 meeting. The board recorded all members voting “yes.” No final annexation, zoning or contract approvals were taken at this meeting.

Next steps: Staff and the applicant said they will continue technical work on traffic, refine condition 30, and engage directly with impacted residents before the Aug. 12 meeting. The public may return to speak at that meeting when the items are reintroduced.