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Franklin board approves sidewalk deferrals for Tuckaway PUD after debate
Summary
After a public hearing and debate about placement and maintenance, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved two modification-of-standard requests for the Tuckaway PUD at 1190 Lewisburg Pike — delaying construction of an on-street sidewalk and permitting a delayed interior connection — and approved the revised development plan.
The Franklin Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted July 14 to approve two modification-of-standard (MOS) requests tied to the Tuckaway Planned Unit Development at 1190 Lewisburg Pike, allowing deferral of a sidewalk along Lewisburg Pike for up to 10 years or until the road is widened and approving a recommended configuration for an internal pedestrian connection.
The board considered MOS 2, a request to permit alternate materials for the internal pedestrian connection (including temporary mulch) and to defer construction of that connection until the Lewisburg Pike sidewalk is installed. Planning staff recommended disapproval of MOS 2, while the Franklin Municipal Planning Commission recommended approval with conditions. After discussion about accessibility, topography and whether the board should prescribe exact alignment, the board approved MOS 2 on a 6–1 vote. Alderman Barnhill cast the lone no vote; other members voted yes. The motion included a condition that the internal connection be constructed as a hard surface and run parallel to the proposed driveway, with construction deferred until the Lewisburg Pike sidewalk exists.
MOS 3 — a request to defer construction of the required sidewalk along Lewisburg Pike until the road is widened or for a period of 10 years, whichever comes first — likewise drew extended discussion. Planning staff recommended denial; the Planning Commission recommended approval with an amended condition requiring a development agreement memorializing the deferred installation and the applicant’s obligation to install the sidewalk when triggered. Engineering staff explained that state plans for Lewisburg Pike include significant drainage work (piping or altering a swale) that would require removing any sidewalk installed now, so deferral would avoid rework and wasted expense. The board voted unanimously to approve MOS 3 with the planning commission’s recommended condition.
Applicant Bill Wellens, who represented Fellowship Bible Church on the project, told the board the proposed driveway alignment and long frontage made the proposed parallel sidewalk connection the most practical route to the front door. Planning staff (“Emily”) explained the ordinances require both a street-front sidewalk and a pedestrian connection to the building and noted applicants typically choose alignment based on topography and other factors.
Following approvals of MOS 2 and MOS 3, the board voted unanimously to adopt the revised development plan for the Tuckaway PUD, incorporating the approved modifications of standards and the planning commission conditions. The board also noted the site will likely return for additional phases and that sidewalk requirements could be revisited with later phases.
Votes and next steps: MOS 2 passed 6–1 (Barnhill opposed). MOS 3 passed unanimously. The revised development plan was approved unanimously. The board directed staff to prepare any needed development agreement language to memorialize the triggers for sidewalk installation.
