City planners hear two annexation requests in north Spring Hill, east of Saturn Parkway

The Spring Hill Planning Commission is currently reviewing two requests for annexation off Clark Road, which ties into the city's recent Urban Growth Boundary expansion.

The requests were submitted by The Richmond Group for South Nashville Commerce, both parcels technically on the same Clark Road property just south of the city limits and east of Saturn Parkway and went before the board Monday.

One request for 18.9 acres on its north side and 24.9 acres on the south side for what will be the Spring Hill Commerce Center.

In 2023, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen were initially considering these requests, which was ultimately decided through public referendum. However, things have changed since then, Development Director Dara Sanders said.

"Since that time, our Urban Growth Boundary for the Williamson County portion [of the city] east of I-65 has been amended to include these properties," Sandars said. "The impact there is that annexation of these two properties can be annexed per city action instead of per a voter's referendum."

There is also a "perfunctory" certification required to officially approve the city's new Urban Growth Boundary, Sanders added.

More: BOMA votes to reduce proposed UGB, updates east/northwest city limits

"That is expected to happen prior to the Board of Mayor and Alderman, who would vote, act or consider the planning commission's recommendation for the annexation of these two properties," she said.

City Attorney Patrick Carter added that the certification will be heard prior to the BOMA's vote, and is pretty much guaranteed to pass.

"This is approval by the local government planning advisory commission," Carter said. "That's expected in September on the UGB part of it. So, it's coming, though I don't have an exact date yet."

No votes were taken Monday on the annexation requests, but both items will go back before the planning commission in August. The commission's recommendation, positive or negative, will then go before BOMA for the final approval. Though if approved, annexation is just step one.

Though the property will be annexed into the city upon approval, it is zoned for agricultural use currently. The city's land use designation for the property is also described as a Gateway Areas, which contain the highest forms of development and future land use to include things like technology and research facilities, conference centers and office space.

No details of these plans for the Spring Hill Commerce Center were presented Monday, though a rezone for anything other than agricultural use would be required.

"There is no rezoning action associated with this annexation, and so should the annexation be approved, these two properties would enter the city limits with an agricultural (AG) zoning designation," Sanders said. "Any future rezoning would require an application to be submitted for consideration with the Development Services Department."

That application would then be reviewed by the planning commission and BOMA.

Jay Powell is a general reporter for The Daily Herald. Get up-to-date news in your inbox by subscribing to The Daily Herald newsletter at www.ColumbiaDailyHerald.com.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: City planners hear two annexation requests in north Spring Hill, east of Saturn Parkway