The Rutherford County Board of Zoning Appeals voted unanimously to show support for Plan Rutherford and to allow its chairman to present that support at a specially called county commission public hearing next week.

Jeff Phillips, chairman of the Rutherford County Commission, told the BZA that "the county's been working on Plan Rutherford and update, which is a long term vision for our county going forward" and that the planning commission had passed the plan unanimously. Phillips asked the BZA to let the county attorney prepare "a resolution of support" and requested that the BZA chairman be allowed to present it during the public hearing.

Board members discussed whether a formal written resolution was necessary or whether the motion could record unanimous support in the BZA minutes and direct the chairman to speak at the county meeting. The board amended the motion to explicitly permit the chairman to appear and vocalize support. The clerk conducted a roll'call vote; every listed member voted yes and the motion carried.

Why it matters: Plan Rutherford is described by county leaders as a multi'year comprehensive vision for land use and growth in Rutherford County. A formal statement of support from the BZA will be part of the public record for the special county commission hearing next week, which will include a public comment period.

The BZA did not adopt the county'commission'draft language on the floor; instead it authorized staff and the county attorney to prepare appropriate wording and directed the chairman to present the body''s support at the upcoming hearing.