Planning Board Study Session

4-11-2022 Discussion of what is already approved in White House

This meeting started at 6pm and full disclosure I walked in 5-10 minutes late. (I teach class from 4:30-5:30 and left a few minutes early) Also, this was difficult to follow and take notes. Being a study session, it was more like a conversation between the board members. The fifty minutes of this meeting truly went all over. There was not an agenda, so I wrote as much as I could about the discussion.

• Ceagus Clark-Planning & Codes Director

• Adam McCormick-Planning Board Chairman

• Tim Murphy- New Board Member

• Dolly Peay- New Board Member

• Bob Dorris- Board Member

• Richard Berry- Board Member

• Clif Hutson- Board Member

• Martha Wilkinson- Board Member

It looks like over 5000 units have been approved in White House 3982 have yet to be built. Of the 37 developments that have been approved over the years, 31 have been approved since 2018.

The sewer plant will have have 2.5 million capacity. (no idea what that means) It will be completed in 18-24 months. They think it should be sufficient. Cope’s Crossing (across from WHHS on Tyree) put the sewer system at capacity. The east side of the city is struggling more with the pumps, but Cope worked with Safe Harbor to get more pumps and pipes to address the sewer issue.

Hutson stated that the impact fees do not cover what they used to. McCormick added that the road fees are based on 1996 numbers. It’s hard to get the impact fees raised, might be a state law on how they are handled.

The term “moratorium” was brought up. There are surrounding areas putting a moratorium in place. McCormick stated that the scale of development is “overwhelming.” Can the planning board say no? Ceagus Clark said that a moratorium can only come from the BOMA (board of mayor and aldermen). The city has to decide on a moratorium possibly just based on road conditions. Tim Murphy stated that requiring larger lots might slow building in the area.

Clark added that the town center should be the current focus and should still happen even in a hypothetical moratorium. R-20, commercial, and the town center could continue, but maybe not the SRPUDs(Suburban Residential Planned Urban Developments). McCormick added that the city needs a game plan for traffic and sewer. Murphy asked if they can add another impact fee for the roads when the homes are completed. Clark added that roads never come first. However, McCormick stated that Gallatin put in their roads first before the extra housing.

The biggest concern right now is 76/New Hall/ Cross Plains Road. TDOT will put that in design in 2024. It will be 10 years before work is completed at that intersection. 31W is still waiting on TDOT, it’s currently not in the plan.

Clark would like to produce an interactive map for the public to see what is going on currently and what is coming.

Bob Dorris would like to see things slow down, and Dolly Peay thinks that fixing lot sizes would help. Clark says that maybe a density recommendation to the city is warranted. Murphy thinks the community would be better served with larger lots. The growth will continue it just needs to have a positive impact on the community. Hutson thinks it’s a good time for larger lots.

Is there any industry coming? Clark reminded the board that Advantex is building, and there may be some other manufacturing in the works. McCormick asked if they could make recommendations for BOMA. Clark said that they are looking at a comprehensive traffic study that will be a great tool for assisting BOMA. There needs to be consistent review of traffic studies, or a traffic engineer needs to be chosen that all of the developers use.

The overall conclusion was a major traffic study needs to be done, and a SRPUD moratorium needs to be considered.

This is the spreadsheet I received from Mr. Clark. I have highlighted all of the developments approved since 2018. The numbers in red are the numbers of homes that I was told will be built. Some of these properties are single families that just needed permission to build a new home or a second home on their own property.