Sumner County planning commission approves Scotty Parker PUD site plan, requires fire hydrant

On April 15, 2025, the Sumner County Regional Planning Commission voted 4-1 to approve the site plan for the Crain Scotty Parker Planned Unit Development, allowing construction of a 16,000-square-foot storage building and a 4,800-square-foot office and requiring a set of conditions including installation of a fire hydrant before occupancy.

Josh Suddath, Director of Planning & Engineering for Sumner County, told commissioners the application complies with the PUD concept plan approved by the County Commission on Sept. 16, 2024, and that submitted grading, drainage and landscaping plans meet county stormwater and zoning requirements. He said the applicant’s trip-generation estimate is 75 peak-hour trips — below the 100-trip threshold that triggers a traffic study — and that Scotty Parker Road has the capacity to handle the projected traffic.

Suddath read language from White House Utility District’s availability letter, saying, “the requested fire hydrant flow rate will not be available to the site unless the developer constructs significant and relatively expensive offsite water main upgrades to provide this level of service to the project.” That letter prompted questions from multiple commissioners about fire protection for the proposed buildings.

Allison Turner, the applicant’s representative with GreenLID Design, told the commission that current on-site pressure is insufficient for the desired hydrant and that ‘‘codes does not require it for this type of structure.’’ Commissioners pressed whether the developer could be required to build the off-site water improvements; Suddath said the commission could make hydrant installation a condition of approval and that obtaining a hydrant may require developer-funded upgrades or a looped connection to another line.

The approved conditions require the county engineer’s sign-off on construction plans, a Sumner County land-disturbance permit, applicable state permits (including the TDEC notice of coverage and the septic permit), building permits and certificates of occupancy, zoning compliance and sign permits, corrections to plan sheet notations identified during the meeting, and a hydrant to service the proposed use before occupancy. The motion to approve was made by Commissioner Adam Issa and seconded by Commissioner Ron Strahle; Vice-Chair Chrissi Smith Miller voted no.

In discussion the commission also reviewed site specifics: a 25-foot Type 2 landscape buffer shown on the plan, a water-quality basin and detention pond intended to reduce post-development runoff, and roughly three acres of impervious surface that will be routed to treatment features. The applicant represented that septic design documents and the state notice of coverage had been filed.

Next steps under the motion require the developer to obtain engineer approval and state permits before county permits are issued; once state permits and a land-disturbance permit are in place, county building permits and inspections may proceed. The commission’s action authorizes the site plan with the stated contingencies, including the hydrant requirement.