Home Care In Spring Hill, TN

The Spring Hill Planning Commission was presented a request Tuesday which could lead to the city establishing its own airport off Jim Warren Road.

The request, submitted by applicant Richmond Company for Spring Hill Commerce Center, was to add the zoning designation of airport district to a previously approved 706.46-acre Professional Development Plan (PDP).

The item was ultimately approved unanimously with a favorable recommendation to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

The property was favorably recommended to the BOMA in December of 2022, with a goal of developing a high-quality employment hub for both Spring Hill and the surrounding region, which would include a mix of light industrial and commercial businesses, according to a Spring Hill planning staff report.

Prior to Tuesday's discussion, supporters spoke to the benefits of Spring Hill opening its own airport, particularly to attract business investments, as well as provide educational opportunities for up-and-coming aviation pilots.

Mike Harris, founder of Hawkins Flight Academy in Shelbyville, said the airport in Spring Hill is needed to support those seeking an aviation career.

"What this is going to be an airport for, is an economic engine to bring tremendous value to this community. The businesses that look for headquarters that have high paying jobs, high-valued corporate headquarters, one of their criteria is easy access to an airport," Harris said.

"What this is as well is an opportunity for young people to pursue flight training and to pursue high-paying jobs. I have 17-year-old high school seniors ... who by the time they are 21 are going to be making six figures in the airlines, at 21 years old."

He said the commute is long to Shelbyville for area students training to be a pilot.

"These kids don't want to drive to Shelbyville. They do, and I have several young people from this community flight training with us," Harris said. "It's a long drive when you are there five days a week for an hour-and-a-half flight lesson, but with two hours of driving."

Others raised concerns about the effects of constructing and operating an airport such as noise for nearby residents, as well as uncertainty in the airport's role.

"I don't totally disagree with what [Harris said], but there is not enough information about what's going to be in that airport district," John Lee, a Duplex Road resident said. "The community is full of rumors, and I'm sure he doesn't want an airport right in his backyard, but it's right next to where I live."

Harris argued that, in the long run, the benefits will outweigh the inconvenience, and that the airport's runway is also oriented towards I-65 and away from residences.

When the item was brought back to planners for discussion, the conversation was fairly brief and focused primarily on the approval process as the project moves to the BOMA. The project will also be considered by the city's Industrial Development Board.

"I believe the applicant believes there are potentially a condition or two that might not necessarily align between the zoning document here and what the [IDB] is working through," Alderman Matt Fitterer said. "I want to ask the applicant, staff and BOMA to review the two documents once we finally see their final form, since the [IDB] might want to advise BOMA in light of that document."

City Attorney Patrick Carter said the development agreement's final draft would be submitted this week, which would give BOMA members plenty of time to review it. Fitterer agreed.

"We've got two readings and two votes at BOMA, and if we need to adjust a condition or two there's no reason that can't happen," Fitterer said.

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.

Storied Development in partnership with Wheelock Street Capital announced last week the launch of Firefly, Middle Tennessee’s newest luxury community located in Spring Hill, approximately 30 miles south of Nashville and 15 miles south of Franklin. Storied Development is known regionally as the developer of The Grove, a 1,100-acre master planned golf community in College Grove.

Firefly will feature an 18-hole golf course and a 9-hole short course designed by world-renowned golf course architect Andrew Green, critically acclaimed for his renovations of classic golf courses such as Scioto, Congressional, Interlachen, Inverness, Oak Hill and East Lake. Firefly will be Green’s first original design.

“The topography of Middle Tennessee is a perfect canvas for a really interesting, challenging golf course,” said architect Andrew Green. “I think members are going to be excited by what we have planned.”

Permitting for the golf courses is underway. Construction of the courses is expected to begin by the end of 2024 and completed by the end of 2025, with a 2026 opening. Other amenities will include a full-service clubhouse, fitness center, family club, adult and kid pools, bowling alley, golf simulators and a racquet club with indoor pickleball courts.

“As we’ve moved through the approvals process, we’ve begun to receive inquiries from people interested to learn more about Firefly,” said Mark Yarborough, Storied partner. “We’ve created the Founder Member program to give people the opportunity to be the first members of Firefly Club. Founder Members will also have a priority position for the purchase of homesites should they decide this community is the home they’ve always wanted.”

Initial homesite prices for Firefly are anticipated to range from $500,000 to $1.5 million. Closings on homesites are expected to begin in the spring of 2025.

“Firefly will be the premier club community in the Nashville area. The amenities are designed to give everyone in the family an activity and a level of service they will love” said Mark Enderle, Storied partner. “The golf is destined to receive national acclaim.”

To learn more about becoming a Founder Member of Firefly, please visit www.fireflyliving.com.

Spring Hill residents came out last week to speak against a proposed Dollar General store at the corner of Beechcroft and Dr. Robertson Road.

The city’s Planning Commission heard from the public regarding a concept review during its Oct. 28 meeting, which served as a work session for its upcoming Nov. 12 meeting. The roughly 10,000-square foot store, if constructed, would sit on 1.39 acres at the northeast corner of Beechcroft Road and Dr. Robertson Road. The property is zoned I-1 (light industrial).

A number of Spring Hill residents objected to the idea of a Dollar General in the area, citing concerns over traffic, company business practices and the clientele that would make use of such a store. The existence of a historic cemetery along Beechcroft was also noted, with citizens saying that would make it difficult to expand the road if necessary.

Kent Hammerstrom, a Cayce Creek Lane resident, said the new development in that area, including the Arbor Valley subdivision, has already caused traffic problems.

“Traffic has been a problem already on Popes Chapel Road and Dr. Robertson Road… We’re experiencing significant traffic volumes,” he said, claiming that some of his neighbors have seen as many as 1,000 cars go by their driveways in just two hours.

Hammerstrom also said that semi trucks were using the nearby roads to get to Interstate 65 despite signs prohibiting truck traffic.

Daniel Allen, a fourth-generation farmer who owns Allenbrooke Farms, said trucks were “running people off the road… there’s already been people injured.”

“A Dollar General is really not what we need in the area. We’ve ruined a very idyllic, rural area and made it into a concrete jungle,” Allen said.

Roger Northrup noted the existence of a number of grocery stores within a short radius of the property and that a previously proposed Dollar General at Beechcroft and Carters Creek had been rejected.

“We already have a Dollar General, Food Lion, Kroger, Walmart, Target, Publix and Aldi within a five-mile radius. There’s also Racetrac, Shell and Twice Daily within that range,” Northrup said.

In all, 19 people spoke against the Dollar General plan over the course of just under an hour.

Staff noted in its comments that an access plan for delivery trucks and a traffic access study would be required with the site plan application when that goes before planners. Staff also noted that a shared driveway with a storage facility to the east, exiting onto Beechcroft, has already been built.

Allison Crowell of T-Square Engineering, representing the developers, asked how the city’s zoning ordinance was applied to that specific property. Crowell also said the proposed store would be a Dollar General Market, meaning it would offer fresh meat and produce.

Monty Turner, who has built previous Dollar General stores in the area, addressed the traffic concerns, saying, “These stores typically cater to consumers and traffic that is already using Beechcroft. We won’t attract consumers or traffic from four or five miles away.”

Because it was only a concept review, there was no action taken at the Oct. 28 meeting. When a proposed site plan would come before the Planning Commission is not known.

Alderman Matt Fitterer asked developers to note the extent of public opposition, saying, “I think if you listened for the last hour, you probably heard that you’re not a very welcome development.”

Fitterer did note that as the property is zoned industrial, the Dollar General store would be a permitted use, adding, “This is not a review on if we endorse or support the project in any way.”

In other action during the meeting, the Planning Commission discussed final development approval for Durango Place (Caldwell Farms) on Buckner Lane. The property, approximately 21.18 acres, would have 109 dwelling units of townhomes and single-family lots.

Commissioner Jonathan Duda asked about sidewalks and accessibility on some of the lots, saying, “Providing the same access without having to access onto Buckner Lane, would, in my opinion, be a good revision.”

Other items discussed included:

Harvest Point Phases 17A and 17B on Beechcroft, with final plat approval being requested for 63 lots;

Building an electrical substation in the Brandywine Industrial Park on 3706 John Lunn Road;

A modification to the approved PDP for Spring Hill Commerce Center that includes the addition of an airport district, the addition of EV charging stations, removing private electric vehicle charging stations from on-site accessory uses, adding a table of native/drought tolerant plant species and an airport district boundary exhibit;

Adding a batch house and maintenance building to an existing concrete plant on Old Port Royal Road; and

Concept plan review of civil and architectural plans for a new two-story, 20,000-square foot warehouse & showroom for Inline Lighting Warehouse & Showroom on Sandia Court.

The Spring Hill Planning Commission’s next voting meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 5:30 p.m. The meeting has been moved back a day because of the Veterans Day holiday.

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SPRING HILL, Tenn. (WSMV) - When Mackenzie Taylor Fankhauser went to vote Tuesday morning in Williamson County, she was not expecting to be told poll workers couldn’t find her name.

“I knew I was registered, and I wanted to vote,” Taylor Fankhauser said. “They said you can leave. They said, ‘We can’t find your name, you’ll have to vote next year, next time.”

She, her mother and brother told WSMV4 Investigates they witnessed poll workers at the Longview Recreation Center in Spring Hill unable to find other voters' names and did not offer provisional ballots.

When Taylor Fankhauser and her family came to WSMV4 Investigates with their concerns, we encouraged her to contact the Williamson County Election Commission.

Taylor Fankhauser then recorded her calls to the election commission for documentation, expressing what she said she and her family witnessed.

WSMV4 Investigates reached out to Chad Gray, Williamson County Election Commissioner, to see if he had been in contact with poll workers at Longview Recreation Center about what Taylor Fankhauser and her family witnessed.

“Are you concerned that voters were turned away today and not offered provisional ballots?” asked WSMV4 Investigates.

Gray said he would respond via email, but his statement did not directly answer the question, writing instead, “Our office is committed to providing all the voters in Williamson County who are entitled to vote the ability to do so, including a provisional ballot if necessary. Our poll officials are dedicated to making the voting process as easy as possible for everyone, even those whose voter registration may be in question.”

Taylor Fankhauser’s mother told WSMV4 Investigates that workers could not find her name, and she asked for a provisional ballot.

She said it took poll workers fifteen minutes to find her name and she was able to vote.

She said her concern is for the voters who were turned away.

“Something is very wrong. If we don’t educate voters, who is going to educate voters?” she said.

If this happened to you or there’s something you want us to know, please email [email protected].

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