Large industrial PUD proposed on Northwest Broad Street; staff supportive pending small-area plan

An application to rezone roughly 167.4 acres along Northwest Broad Street to a Planned Unit District (PUD) — described by the applicant as a master-planned industrial/business park — was presented to the Planning Commission on April 8. Staff noted the site adjoins the city's wastewater facility, includes a planned donation of acreage for future water-resources expansion, and will require standard PUD design and buffer commitments.

Mr. Barbee described the proposal as seven buildings totaling about 2.1 million square feet of warehouse space with building heights up to 75 feet and internal trailer-storage and parking areas. The applicant and planner said buffering and a 100-foot stream/wetland setback along the Stones River (staff referenced Stone River) are part of the plan; the applicant committed to internalizing trailer storage and enhancing the Broad Street frontage with landscaping.

Brian Goldberg, presenting for Claris Partners, said the application anticipates future changes to the city's future land-use map as the Cherry Lane/Stone Parkway study area is finalized and that the plan includes right-of-way dedications and utility coordination. Staff told the commission the Planning Commission must hold a public hearing and then forward a recommendation to City Council; a public hearing was conducted and no substantive neighborhood opposition was recorded during the staff presentation.