Planning commission approves rezoning near Sulfur Springs Road for commercial services

The Rutherford County Regional Planning Commission on April 13 approved a rezoning that will allow commercial services on part of a 38.5-acre tract near Sulfur Springs Road.

Staff presented the request and said the applicant proposes to rezone about 20 acres from Residential Medium to Commercial Services (CS), expanding a 2019 CS zoning area so the total CS acreage would be about 34 acres. Staff noted the submittal includes a nonbinding concept plan that shows a potential extension of Frontage Road J, room for a shop and office and a laydown yard for equipment; no development timeline or traffic study has been submitted at this stage.

The applicant, who said his family has owned the property for about 35 years, told commissioners the portion of the site fronting the residential area would remain suitable for a future house, and that his son intends to build an excavating company shop on the portion adjacent to I-840. "We just want to get the zoning in place before we started spending money on dirt work," the applicant said.

Commissioners heard that CS-zoned property is required to provide a Type 2 buffer along adjacent residential lines and that an engineered site plan would be required if development is proposed. With no public comment in opposition for this item, a commissioner moved to approve the rezoning with staff comments; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.

The approval at the planning commission is a recommendation; the rezoning will be considered by the Rutherford County Board of Commissioners at the regular hearing on May 14, 2026, unless the applicant or staff withdraws or the commission defers the item. Any future development will still require the county's site-plan review and applicable permits before any construction or commercial activity begins.