Board approves Hillcrest Hillside Overlay boundary revisions after public hearing, 6–1

The Franklin Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved revisions to the Hillcrest Hillside Overlay (HHO) boundary for a property south of Mack Hatcher Memorial Parkway at 354 Franklin Road by a 6–1 vote after a public hearing on May 12.

Emily, a city planner, described three proposed changes to the HHO boundary: a decrease of about 2.5 acres near the terminus of Cool Springs Boulevard, another decrease on the Franklin Road side of a few acres where ground is already graded, and an addition of roughly 1.54 acres at the rear of the property along Ash Drive to provide a buffer for adjacent residences. She clarified that the 500‑foot HHO buffer is measured from the current HHO line at the time an application is made and that the buffer change was depicted on the staff exhibit.

Greg Gamble, representing property owner Cumberland Western, said the applicant had worked with staff and the planning commission to "right‑size" the HHO boundary and thanked the board and staff for their work.

Board members probed whether the revised line would allow single‑family homes in the revised area, whether changes in grading or utility work had altered slopes, and whether the buffer would extend onto adjacent historic properties such as Whitehall. Emily said the grading in several areas was man‑made and that the scenic corridor overlay and setback rules make construction unlikely in the zone near Mack Hatcher; she offered to provide a slope analysis to any board member requesting it.

An amendment offered by one alderman to remove a specific 2.56‑acre area from consideration failed for lack of a second. The final roll call recorded a 6–1 approval: Alderman Potts voted no while the rest voted in favor.

Why it matters: The HHO designation governs hillside protections, view sheds and development setbacks. The revisions adjust where hillside protections apply and will affect how future development proposals on the property are reviewed and what mitigation may be required.

Next steps: With the board's approval, the change moves forward as adopted; staff noted constraints imposed by the scenic corridor overlay and historic preservation overlay that will continue to limit redevelopment potential on adjoining properties.

Representative quotes:

"So I just wanna say something. The reason why we chose Franklin to do this concert and to do this event is 2 words. It's the people," Greg Gamble said when speaking for the property owner; he also said the team worked with staff to "get it right."

Planner Emily said: "The 500‑foot buffer will always be measured from the existing HHO line at the time an application is made," and she offered to supply additional slope‑analysis details to board members who requested them.