Spring Hill approves first reading of sewer moratorium ordinance; developers urge allocation changes

The Spring Hill Board of Mayor and Alderman approved the first reading of ordinance 25‑29, a one‑time framework that sets how remaining wastewater treatment capacity will be allocated among pending and prospective developments. The motion passed on first reading; the board’s vote was recorded in the meeting transcript as approved with eight votes and one abstention or non‑vote noted by the clerk.

Developers and their representatives used the public‑comment period to press for changes before second reading. Chris Smith, vice president of Goodall Homes, told the board Arbor Valley — a long‑vested project — was assigned one of the smallest tier‑1 allocations despite prior development agreements and infrastructure contributions, and asked the board to increase the project’s share to 18,000 gallons per day (12,000 for detached units and 6,000 for attached units). Smith said the allocation as released would yield only four and a half months of permits for his project and would prevent a shared off‑site treatment project that he estimated would remove about 250,000 gallons from the system.

Patrick Pitts, speaking for D.R. Horton, asked the board for a timeline showing how long TDEC review and adoption of decentralized wastewater standards will take, saying developers need a clear schedule to move forward with system designs. Ben Shadle, representing the Kidron Square project, asked staff to explain Group 2 allocation criteria so project teams can set expectations with partners and lenders.

City staff and consultants described the ordinance and related technical standards. Mr. Allen, appearing for staff, said the allocation table in the packet reflects extensive work with developers and described provisions for one‑off allocations for nonresidential tenant improvements. He also announced two technical corrections to the decentralized‑system draft standards: a setbacks table was corrected to match consolidated utility district (CUD) standards after staff discovered they had copied a Williamson County table in error, and a reserve‑soils requirement was reduced from 50% to 25% while adding a requirement that a constructed ‘‘drip zone’’ be fully activated, which staff said balances land use concerns and operational readiness.

The board also considered resolution 25‑300, directing staff to submit the city’s decentralized wastewater standards to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) for review and to align with the city’s consent‑order obligations. Staff called the standards document comprehensive (more than 100 pages in the meeting packet) and said they intend to move the submission forward to accelerate later board approvals.

What happens next: ordinance 25‑29 was approved on first reading (not final); board members and staff emphasized changes can be made before second reading, which would require a motion and vote at a future meeting. Resolution 25‑300 to submit the standards to TDEC passed on a recorded vote (9–0). Developers seeking larger allocations said they will continue to work with staff and expect to raise specific amendment requests at second reading.