Murfreesboro City Council approved a plan of services and annexation for roughly 22.5 acres along Old Salem Road on Nov. 6, after protracted debate about traffic and connectivity in the area.

The measure recognizes the city’s ability to provide services to the property and adds city right-of-way frontages; the council approved the plan of services and annexation by roll call. The companion rezoning for 19.26 acres — filed as a planned residential development to be called Robinson Bend, proposing 83 homes (52 single-family detached and 31 single-family attached) and approximately 30% open space — cleared first reading as an ordinance (25-O-Z-34).

The discussion centered on council members’ repeated requests that staff do a holistic corridor- or demand-level traffic study for the Old Salem/Veterans Parkway area rather than rely solely on traffic impact studies (TIS) submitted for individual developments. Vice Mayor Shacklett pressed staff and the council to “do our due diligence” and to consider a more comprehensive study to anticipate traffic 10–20 years out, saying piecemeal reviews risk retrofitting infrastructure later. Staff and the project’s engineer, Matt Taylor, said the project’s TIS included background growth and that the city’s transportation department is moving forward with signalization at Rucker Lane and Veterans Parkway, projected within six to eight months.

Council considered a motion to defer the related plan of services and zoning to allow staff time to prepare a broader study. The motion failed on a roll call. Council then approved the plan of services and annexation on roll call vote, and later approved the PRD rezoning on first reading. Mayor McFarland and four council members voted to approve the plan of services and annexation; Vice Mayor Shacklett voted no on the final procedural roll call for deferral but the annexation ultimately passed.

Staff noted sewer is not yet available directly to the site and developers would be responsible for extending service. The proposed development includes one primary access from Old Salem Road with planned stub-outs for future connectivity; staff said they would evaluate providing a gated emergency/“crash” access from the northern cul-de-sac prior to second reading.

Robinson Bend’s proponents said the site’s design includes three stub outs for future connections and that internal roadways account for required fire access and turn templates. Planning staff recommended the rezoning as consistent with the city’s 2035 Future Land Use designation of Auto-Urban Residential (AUR).

Next steps: the PRD ordinance advances to second reading where staff will report back on the emergency access/crash gate evaluation and any additional transportation analysis the council directs.