Historic zoning commission gives preliminary approval to Harpeth Village plan and signage-modification requests

The Franklin Historic Zoning Commission on Jan. 12 voted to recommend preliminary approval of the conceptual Harpeth Village development plan at 318 Franklin Road to the Franklin Municipal Planning Commission and the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, and separately recommended preliminary approval of several modification-of-standards requests related to signage and roadway alignment.

Staff framed the action as a preliminary recommendation only; if FMPC or BOMA approves elements of the plan or modification-of-standards requests, the commission will still review any subsequent certificate of appropriateness (COA) and site-plan materials. Staff noted the proposed development consists of five commercial mixed-use buildings largely sited behind the hill so that only a small portion would be visible from Franklin Road, and recommended approval of plan elements that minimize impacts to topography, the hill and viewshed.

Drake Reeder of Gamble Design Collaborative described recent design changes: reduced building heights and broken-up masses, parking primarily behind the hill, and several on-site surveys (including a metal-detector archaeological survey). Architect Meredith reviewed revised elevations showing stepped parapets and 6-foot third-floor setbacks to reduce perceived mass. The applicant said illumination requests had been removed and that canopy signage and vertical blade signs would be interior to the site and not visible from Franklin Road.

Commissioners commended the thorough historic analysis and the applicant’s responsiveness. After separate votes, the commission voted in favor of recommending the plan to FMPC and BOMA and also voted to forward a favorable preliminary recommendation for the modification-of-standards requests; commissioners repeatedly noted that any final sign designs or site details would return to this commission for COA review.