Premier Academy day-care plan clears initial review; buffer-yard alternative requested

The Planning Commission reviewed a final master development plan for Premier Academy of Gallatin, a proposed day-care facility to be located at 1168 Nashville Pike on a 0.59-acre parcel. Staff said the proposal retains the existing building footprint, shows removal of some trees, front parking adjacent to Nashville Pike and a fenced playground at the rear, and otherwise conforms to the Nashville corridor overlay.

Jake Vincent of Reagan Smith, representing the applicant, said staff and engineering assessed a potential rear-alley access option but that the driveway slope made rear access infeasible. Vincent said the applicant will seek an alternative to the 10-foot side buffer yard on the west because existing site constraints — an adjacent parking lot and tight property lines — make meeting the full planting standard impractical; the applicant asked for guidance and planned to present an alternate buffer-yard treatment on the return submittal.

Commissioners and staff noted that alternative buffer-yard treatments are common in this corridor where significant existing trees and corridor character can be preserved, and they asked the applicant to return with a proposed alternative buffer design and planting plan.