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Council hears neighbor concerns as Ascension seeks rezoning for freestanding emergency room
Summary
Council held a public hearing on rezoning one lot along East Pitts Lane to permit a freestanding Ascension emergency room; neighbors raised traffic and road‑condition concerns, Ascension said ambulances will be routed off Las Casas Pike, and staff said county road improvements and drainage work will be required before full build‑out.
The Murfreesboro City Council on June 4 considered a rezoning request to permit a freestanding emergency room on a lot near East Pitts Lane, a move applicants say is necessary to allow Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford to operate the facility.
Staff told council the rezoning request would change a parcel from CF to Commercial Highway because the zoning ordinance classifies a freestanding emergency room as a hospital use. Planning Commission had previously recommended approval conditional on the state’s certificate of need; staff said that certificate was issued in March and the item was advertised for the June 4 public hearing.
Neighbor Steve Wright told the council he lives on East Pitts Lane and asked whether the majority of traffic would be routed through the main MMC entrance or down East Pitts Lane, saying, "I would just like to know if that is the plan of the majority of this traffic to go through the main MMC or... East Pitts Lane." Multiple council members and staff acknowledged concerns about East Pitts Lane’s current width, drainage and suitability for increased traffic.
Daphne David, CEO of Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford, said the site plan under review routes ambulances and encourages general traffic to use Las Casas Pike. "Our goal is to encourage all traffic to come off of Las Casas Pike, and we've shared with the community we're not going to be able to prevent all of that from happening," she said, adding that ambulances will have a dedicated approach on the site.
Staff and council discussed that East Pitts Lane is not a city‑maintained road; county permitting and potential road improvements would be required for safe access. Council members stressed the importance of ensuring substandard roads are improved before development proceeds and noted drainage work and culvert relocation will factor into permit reviews.
The Planning Commission previously delayed a final city action pending the state certificate of need; staff said the certificate was granted in March and the rezoning was before council on first reading. Council conducted the first‑reading consideration; final zoning action will depend on administrative conditions, any required site‑plan approvals, and coordination with county road authorities.
