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Planning commission recommends annexation of Cornerstone Church property and rezoning to office, 8–1
Summary
Commission recommended annexation of roughly 22.38 acres owned by Cornerstone Church and rezoning to office to align with the city's future land use plan; commissioners raised questions about tax‑exempt status and service obligations before approving 8–1.
The Hendersonville Planning Commission voted to recommend annexation of roughly 22.38 acres owned by Cornerstone Church and the Tennessee District Council of the Assemblies of God and to rezone the parcels at 1402 and 1410 Kingdom Way to office, finding the request consistent with the city’s future land‑use plan.
Alan Jenkins, a member of the church’s board of directors, told the commission the church has no immediate development plans and seeks annexation primarily to align zoning with the city’s long‑term plans: “We don’t really have any development plans. What we want to do is get it into the city so that that office designation, the city has the opportunity to continue to do what you do from a zoning standpoint.”
Commissioners pressed the applicant and staff on long‑term implications. Commissioner Silkwood raised a concern about the city providing services to land that is tax‑exempt: “you are property tax exempt. And so, you’re not paying property taxes to the city, yet there’s an expectation and there is a set level of services that must be provided,” noting a potential tension for municipal services if the land remains exempt. Staff and the applicant said roads were not included in the annexation and pointed out the property lies inside the city’s urban growth boundary and aligns with the future land‑use designation.
Commissioners also asked whether office zoning would allow uses such as church camps; the applicant responded that they had no plans for camps and that the office designation was chosen as the best lateral match to existing county zoning and to the city’s future land‑use policies.
The commission moved to recommend approval of the plan of services, annexation and rezoning to office; the electronic vote passed eight yeses, one no. The recommendation will proceed to the next legislative step per the city’s annexation and rezoning process.
Next steps: the recommendation will be forwarded to the appropriate legislative body for final action under the city’s annexation and zoning procedures.
