Developers outline Harlan PUD plan, propose Mack Hatcher extension and gated Hillview access

An applicant team presented the Harlan planned unit development (PUD) and a proposed revision to Condition 30 at the Franklin City Board of Mayor and Aldermen work session on March 24.

Greg Gamble, representing the applicant, said the Harlan plan seeks annexation, rezoning and approval of a development plan in the Village Green overlay at 1247 Hillview Lane. He described roughly 242 homes, about 70% open space in the plan area, approximately 27,000 square feet of neighborhood commercial space and a later-phase boutique inn. Gamble said the submittal does not change the entitlements on the development plan but does revise how off-site roadway access will be provided.

Adam Balosz of Boyle Investment Company said the applicant is asking that Condition 30 be revised so that proposed entry improvements at Coleman Road and the intersections at Henpeck and Columbia Pike — and related off-site work — be completed and accepted by the city and, where applicable, by the Tennessee Department of Transportation before the first homes open for public use. He said the plan includes extending Mack Hatcher Parkway farther to connect to Shimerick Drive with a new connector and that the northern access from Harlan to Hillview Lane would be temporarily gated with an emergency gate until the improvements are accepted.

Balosz outlined a schedule the team described as reasonable: 2026 for design and permitting, 2027 to begin off-site roadway and utility construction, 2028 for first home construction, and occupancy beginning in 2029 with phase-one buildout around 2030. He said the project will require on-site utility work during phase 1, including water-line work that connects into a larger regional line, and that sewer alignment has been adjusted to avoid disturbance to Hillview Lane.

Council members pressed the applicant on neighborhood impacts, emergency access and the practical effect of gating Hillview Lane. The mayor and council asked whether the proposal would cause traffic to divert through nearby Shadow Green; Gamble and Balosz said Hillview would remain a public street and the proposed connector would create alternative paths that avoid routing new through-traffic through the tree tunnel area. Applicant representatives said the plan allows for an emergency gate placement that would preserve McGinn property access and meet fire and engineering requirements.

Traffic-engineering concerns and alternatives were discussed at length. Amy Burch of Burch Transportation, retained by the applicant, summarized multi-scenario studies and said two coordinated signals with the proposed offset alignments reduce conflict points and provide stacking capacity between signals. She said a single-roundabout or realigned single intersection performed worse in the analyses for full build-out traffic volumes.

On costs, the applicant said it proposes roughly $12 million in off-site roadway improvements and expects to generate about $4 million in impact-fee revenue from the project; the applicant characterized the remaining approximately $8 million as additional spending it will invest to deliver the required intersections and connections.

Staff recommended holding another public hearing before final votes so the public may respond to the newly presented off-site-improvement language. Staff proposed scheduling that hearing and the final readings for the annexation/zoning items on April 28. The planning staff asked the board whether it wanted to act on modifications of standards (MOS) tonight or defer them, noting two MOS items where planning commission and staff recommendations differ.

The work session produced questions and clarifications rather than votes. Council members and staff said they would seek more public input, ensure emergency access and review the technical details of Condition 30 and the MOS list before any final vote.

The board adjourned with the Harlan items set up for further public hearing and follow-up.