The Murfreesboro Planning Commission on Dec. 17 approved the initial design review for Waterstone Lot 5, a proposed 40‑bed, 54,000‑square‑foot physical rehabilitation hospital to be located north of Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital. The commission’s approval was made "subject to staff comments."

Planning staff told commissioners the review focused on building architecture — massing, scale and materials — and that revised drawings were submitted as recently as the day before the meeting. Staff said the design team reduced areas of EIFS and introduced more brick to better match surrounding buildings.

Kristen Ferry, project manager with ESA, said the team "selected red brick to bring in some of the brick that's in the surrounding vernacular" and that lighter‑color brick was substituted for EIFS to "achieve the same kind of goal, but . . . look a little nicer." She also described measures to screen rooftop mechanical units and reduce eave projections.

Commissioners questioned site orientation, the front (northwest) entry canopy and pick‑up/drop‑off operations. Ferry said pick‑up and drop‑off will occur at the front canopy and that the main parking lot and accessible spaces are separate from the front drive.

A commissioner moved to approve the application with staff comments; after a second the commission voted and the chair declared the application passed. The commission did not adopt final elevations or construction permits at the meeting; staff and the design team are expected to present any updated materials at final design review.

Next steps: the project will proceed toward final design review with staff conditions to be addressed before building permits are issued.