Commission backs ordinance to update vested‑rights language to reflect recent Tennessee law changes
Summary
The commission recommended Ordinance 25‑23 to update the town's vested‑rights provisions, clarifying what constitutes a substantially compliant submission and aligning local code with May 2025 amendments to the Tennessee Code Annotated that change vesting from approval to submission.
The Farragut Municipal Planning Commission unanimously recommended an ordinance to update Chapter 24 (vested rights in development standards) to reflect recent amendments to the Tennessee Code Annotated (May 2025) that change vesting rules and require local governments to specify what constitutes "substantial compliance."
Staff explained the substantive change: under the recent state amendment, vesting can occur at the time of submission rather than at approval, but a submittal must "substantially comply" with local requirements to be considered vested. To remove ambiguity, staff and the town attorney drafted Ordinance 25‑23 to define what a complete, substantially compliant application entails and to clarify the differences among final development plans, preliminary plans, and building permits.
Commissioners asked how staff would notify applicants about vesting determinations; staff confirmed the office provides status responses and will document whether an application is complete and considered vested. The commission approved Resolution PC‑25‑13 recommending Ordinance 25‑23 to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.
If adopted, the ordinance will align town code with state law and provide clearer processes for applicants and staff regarding when and how development approvals and vesting occur.
