Rezoning of 354 acres in Spring Hill voted down by county planning commission after residents oppose

The Tom Primm Meeting Room in Columbia was standing room only on Monday night, as residents packed the Maury County Planning Commission meeting to unload their concerns about the proposed Chantilly Park development in Spring Hill.

Over 80 residents in Maury County and Spring Hill attended the meeting to hear the discussion and convey their concerns about rezoning over 350 acres of land, among three rural properties, to make way for the development.

At the end of the discussion, the planning committee voted down the proposal, 4-5, with planning committee chairman Harold Delk suggesting to developers they can take their proposal to the county commission.

The proposal includes the annexation of 354 acres at the corner of Kedron Road and Interstate 65, which would be the land tract to hold a maximum of 799 single-family homes and townhomes, plus 10 acres of commercial.

Stephen Rowland: Praying bystanders lead to miracle on the side of the road on 31A

'We are all excited': Lisa Ventura's superintendent contract approved by Maury County school board

A requested rezone for this project would push what is now considered a rural residential A2 to an urban fringe R2 zone, thereby increasing the number of homes that can be built per acre, plus add a commercial business component.

The goal by citizens in attendance was clear: To let county planners know that many residents do not want a rezone they believe would effectively push a city already in a crunch to even greater density without the infrastructure to support it.

The four-hour meeting was full of discussion and impassioned public comments by residents, including Spring Hill Mayor Jim Hagaman.

Hagaman was just one of many citizens during public comments, who stood at the podium telling the planning commission that the city does not want the residential PUD on the table as it is currently proposed.

“I am opposed to this development for a number of reasons,” Hagaman said.

Reading a letter that he wrote, he cited as one problem, the control of the water service for the proposed PUD. Last week, Hagaman signed an order for Spring Hill residents to temporarily curb nonessential water usages, such as watering lawns, to conserve water due to a shortage in the city.

“The city will not be able to serve the proposed development,” he said. “We do not want any high density residential at this time because the infrastructure will not support it.”

In addition, in a June 9, 2021 letter, the city of Columbia Waste Water Department Director Danny Boshers wrote to the civil site director that the city does not have sanitary sewer connection near the site, nor will it.

‘A lifestyle community’

Casey Werner, representing Suncrest Real Estate & Land told the county planning committee that the Chantilly Park project would be “a positive contribution to Maury County, one that everyone will be proud of.”

In Werner’s few minutes before the committee, he said the area would be complemented by a variety of recreational uses. He said 160 acres would be dedicated to a fishing pond, community parks, playgrounds, picnic areas, outdoor fitness stations, bike paths, dog parks and a five-mile walking trail.

“We’re trying to be part of the answer, not part of the problem,” said David Buschmann of Insight Properties.

“They’re trying to build a lifestyle community that will fit in here.”

Buschmann proceeded to outline his meetings with community leaders to ensure that problems were being heard, reviewed and compensated.

Impact fees, land dedicated to county

He said the development would pay $800,000 for impact costs to Maury County Public Schools.

“All these people are not coming tomorrow,” Buschmann said. “It’ll take six to eight years to fill that subdivision up. These kids won’t be in school tomorrow.”

Emergency management services in the county would receive $500,000 from the developers and an acre and a half of land to decide how to use it, according to Buschmann.

Half a million for road improvements

The impact to the roads were next on the list of discussions with Buschmann detailing how the developers would contribute to road widening and improvements at Greens Mill, Ragan and Kedron roads.

“We will probably spend over a half a million dollars just on that,” he said.

With the recent water shortages in Spring Hill, the developers also pledged $5 million to help with getting water systems up to date.

“The whole region has a problem with the water,” Buschmann said. “We all know that. And it includes improving lines all the way to Bear Creek.

“Houses are coming. We all know that.”

Buschmann summed up developer contributions to the sum of nearly $30 million.

Crowded schools, water shortage a concern

With the room still full and after much discussion, Planning Committee Chairman Harold Delk paused to ask the residents in the room if they were in favor of the proposal.

Not one hand went up.

In turn, every hand shot straight up to oppose the development.

Sharon Fuller, a resident of Kedron Road, said developers need to take a hard look at how potential growth will impact the area, citing the recent water shortage among other issues.

“What has not grown is the resources required to sustain this growth,” Fuller said. “The citizens who purchased their lands, have intentionally moved out to this area to escape the high-density developments.”

Further stating that the school board would not make official recommendations on proposed developments, Michael Fulbright chairman of the Maury County Board of Education made clear that the schools are “edging towards capacity.”

In other news: As water use reaches peak season, Spring Hill requiring citizens to curb nonessential water use

More: Maury juvenile petitions almost double, leading to need for new staff position

Fulbright said the irony of more new residents moving to the area for the city’s high quality of life and education, is that new students could be going to classrooms in portable trailers.

“We’re very limited on what funds we have to build new schools,” Fulbright said.

Beth Norwood of Kedron Road, whose property touches the proposed PUD reminded the planning committee of some of their own previous statements about this project, stating that the county and city could not handle it.

“I’m not against development,” Norwood said. “I’m for smart development that we can handle.”

This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Residents raise concerns over proposed 799-unit development in Spring Hill