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Residents praise Grace Works donation, warn of equestrian loss and programming monopolies
Summary
Public commenters supported Grace Works' potential permanent site on Brownland Farm, but urged guardrails: equestrian supporters warned rezoning would displace horse activities and at least one parent raised antitrust concerns about Predators' youth-programming relationships.
During the public-comment portion of an informational session on the Banks at Brownland project, multiple residents described how the proposed development would affect local nonprofits, equestrian heritage and youth sports programming.
Patricia Cooper, a mother of a figure skater, spoke in favor of bringing a rink to Williamson County for youth access but warned that existing business relationships risk creating a monopoly over youth programming. "The relationship between the Predators and Total Package Hockey... has created a monopoly on the ice," Cooper said, and she asked officials to allow the project to proceed only with "meaningful guard rails against creating an antirust situation."
Diane Bridges, who identified herself as an equestrian and Franklin resident, said rezoning Brownland to commercial would push equestrian activities farther away and erode a regional horse culture. "Reszoning this to commercial property is going to make the equestrian group move further out," she said, and urged officials to consider the mental-health and cultural value of preserving horse facilities.
Alicia Bell, CEO of Grace Works Ministries, said Boulevard Capital and Christ Community Church have proposed donating land and a pad-ready site for Grace Works’ permanent home. "This means the world to 15,000 neighbors that we serve on an annual basis," Bell said, and described the donation as critical to keeping the nonprofit anchored in Franklin.
Speakers asked officials to require transparency on who will hold ownership stakes, what taxpayers would fund and what public benefits will be guaranteed if public dollars are used. Several commenters requested that testing results, flood analyses and any pro forma detail be posted publicly for community review.
The session did not include policy votes on rezoning or funding; officials directed staff to follow up with technical studies and to return with proposed agreements and public outreach plans.
