Germantown commission approves UT Martin classroom building at Wildwood Farm

The Germantown Design Review Commission approved a preliminary and final site plan on Aug. 26 for a new classroom building at Wildwood Farm to serve the University of Tennessee Martin's equine education program. The commission recorded affirmative votes from all members present and granted the site-plan approval, clearing a city permitting step for the project.

City staff described the proposal as an education building sited on the Wildwood property and noted the farm is in an R single‑family residential zone; the applicant previously received a use‑on‑appeal on Aug. 5, 2025 for the same scope of work, staff said. Staff reported the building would measure about 7,700 square feet, accommodate roughly 30 day students and faculty, and include approximately 39–44 parking spaces. Staff also said the building would sit more than 1,000 feet from existing single‑family residences and that proposed bollard and parking lighting—slightly above the manual's recommended values—were acceptable given the distance to homes.

"You pull up in front of the barn, and then you go in the barn, and it's just this place becomes magical to you," said Scott Van Riet of LRK, the applicant's design representative, describing the team's intent to preserve the farm character and to keep the new building unobtrusive. Van Riet walked commissioners through the design choices—white‑toned brick, simulated wood accents at entryways and a metal panel roof—saying the team focused on a simple building that complements the existing barns rather than competing with them.

Commissioners asked about the siting decision on the large property and whether student use would interfere with the farm owner's residence. The applicant said vehicle access would use a separate drive so day students and faculty could be on site without interacting with farm operations; the design includes a short courtyard for student use during the day. One commissioner who had served on the Board of Zoning Appeals noted satisfaction that the use‑on‑appeal had produced this result and expressed excitement to see the project move forward. Another commissioner told the applicant they "loved this" design and supported approval.

With the approval, city staff may proceed to construction plan review with the engineering division. The commission did not receive public comment on the item at the meeting and offered no conditions beyond the standard plan‑review process.