Planning commission recommends annexing Martha Leavell Road right-of-way; resident seeks clarification on private-property effects

The Lebanon Planning Commission voted to recommend annexing approximately 3.88 acres of Martha Leavell Road right-of-way into Ward 4, at the request of the Wilson County Road Commission, to clarify future maintenance responsibility.

Planning staff said the annexation request covers the roadway right-of-way and noted an agreement already exists for the city to maintain the stretch. During public comment, resident Melinda Langford (106 Gordon Drive, Lebanon, Tennessee) asked how the annexation would affect her adjacent triangular parcel and whether it would place her private property inside the city.

Langford said she had received notice because the annexation goes beside her property and asked, "Does that mean you put me in the city?" Planning staff responded, "This annexation request is just for the public right of way. No private property is being requested for annexation at this time. If she wishes to be annexed to this issue, she would have to make that application herself." The staff clarified that adjacent property would not change jurisdictional status unless the landowner applied for annexation.

After discussion, the commission made and passed a motion for a positive recommendation to city council regarding annexation and zoning of the right-of-way (zoning to RS-9 to be added to Ward 4). The commission’s action was recorded as a voice vote; specific roll-call tallies were not recorded in the transcript.

Next steps: the recommendation will be forwarded to city council for action as part of the annexation process.