Property committee approves easement, accepts $188,700 for Columbia Avenue widening

The Williamson County Property Committee voted unanimously to authorize the county mayor to grant a fee-simple interest and a temporary construction easement needed for the planned widening of Columbia Avenue. County staff said the city of Franklin, working with the Tennessee Department of Transportation, will acquire a portion of county-owned property adjacent to Moody’s and pay the county $188,700 for the rights.

County staff member Kevin told the committee the project will take approximately 9 feet of fee interest and an additional 15 feet of temporary construction easement from the parcel that houses the former highway garage. He said the county is transitioning that building into a surplus property and will house the road crew and other county functions there. “They’re going to pay us $188,700,” Kevin said.

Kevin described how the amount was set: an appraiser retained by the acquiring jurisdiction prepared a valuation and the offer went through the county attorney’s office; the county can accept or negotiate the figure. He told members the payment will go into the county’s general fund. Committee members asked about the segment’s location and Kevin identified it as adjacent to Moody’s and noted the wider Columbia Avenue project runs roughly 2.5 miles from Downs Boulevard south to Mack Hatcher and will be widened to five lanes.

Construction timing remains long-term; staff said easement negotiations and acquisitions commonly take years and noted the project’s current target for construction start is 2031. The committee approved the resolution by voice vote, recorded as 3-0 in favor.

The resolution authorizes the Williamson County Mayor to grant the described fee interest and temporary construction easement to enable the Columbia Avenue widening project to proceed.