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Throughout February of 2024, each jurisdiction in the County took action on the Growth Plan and multiple jurisdictions voted to reject it. The Coordinating Committee reconvened on April 30, 2024 and approved an updated Growth Plan. The City of Franklin ratified it at the May 28, 2024 BOMA meeting. The Local Government Planning Advisory Committee (LGPAC) will review the Growth Plan and make the final approval before it becomes adopted. 

Background Information

The City of Franklin, along with Williamson County, Brentwood, Fairview, Nolensville, Spring Hill, and Thompson’s Station are all working to update the Williamson County Growth Plan. Franklin is currently evaluating its Urban Growth Boundary (UGB), which is a defined area beyond the city limits in which the City of Franklin could grow into over time. View the Draft UGB Map. 

Williamson County’s existing Growth Plan, which was developed pursuant to the requirements of Public Chapter 1101, was adopted in April of 2001. The Growth Plan established UGBs around each of the six municipalities, as well as four Planned Growth Areas within the County. These growth boundaries have not been altered since their adoption in 2001. Each municipality is evaluating their own respective UGB and all proposed changes will be consolidated and considered for approval through a prescribed ratification process. 

Why is it important?

The state legislature required all counties in Tennessee not part of a consolidated metropolitan government to complete a growth plan. In addition to the state law requirement, the UGB sets the limits for land use, transportation, and sewer basin planning efforts. Connect Franklin, Envision Franklin, and the sewer basin plans have been adopted to help manage growth and development throughout the city limits and the UGB.

Why is the City updating the UGB?

The UGB should be reevaluated at least every twenty years to account for infrastructure improvements, market trends, growth patterns, and other changes that have occurred.

What are the required steps?

The Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA) Section 6-58-106 prescribes the procedures that must be followed when amending the Growth Plan. It involves an almost identical process as the original adoption process.

Prior to officially proposing the amendments to urban growth boundary lines to the Coordinating Committee, the municipalities must have performed the following:

1.    Conduct at least two (2) public hearings. Notice of the time, place and purpose of the public hearing shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality not less than fifteen (15) days before each hearing;

2.    Develop and report population growth projections;

3.    Determine and report the current costs and the projected costs of core infrastructure, urban services, public facilities necessary to facilitate full development of resources within the current boundaries of the municipality and to expand such infrastructure, services, and facilities throughout the territory under consideration for inclusion within the urban growth boundaries;

4.    Determine and report on the need for additional land suitable for high density, industrial, commercial and residential development, after taking into account all areas within the municipality's current boundaries that can be used, reused or redeveloped to meet such needs;

5.    Examine and report on agricultural lands, forests, recreational areas and wildlife management areas within the territory under consideration for inclusion within the urban growth boundaries; and

6.    Examine and report on the likely long-term effect of urban expansion on such agricultural lands, forests, recreational areas and wildlife management areas.

 The state law also says that municipal urban growth boundaries shall: 

1.    Identify territory that is reasonably compact yet sufficiently large to accommodate residential and nonresidential growth projected for the next twenty (20) years;

2.    Identify territory that is contiguous to the existing boundaries of the municipality;

3.    Identify territory that a reasonable and prudent person would project as the likely site of high density commercial, industrial and/or residential growth over the next twenty (20) years based on historical experience, economic trends, population growth patterns, and topographical characteristics (professional planning, engineering, and/or economic studies may also be considered);

4.    Identify territory in which the municipality is better able and prepared than other municipalities to efficiently and effectively provide urban services;

5.    Reflect the municipality's duty to facilitate full development of resources within the current boundaries of the municipality and to manage and control urban expansion outside of such current boundaries, taking into account the impact to agricultural lands, forests, recreational areas and wildlife management areas.

How does annexation into the City occur?

The UGB update is different from annexation.  Annexation refers to the addition of properties into the corporate city limits. Annexation can only occur when a property owner willingly requests to be annexed into the City or by referendum. Property owners within the UGB are eligible to request annexation which is ultimately voted on by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen with a recommendation from the Planning Commission. There is also a process to annex by referendum, barring that the territory is not within another jurisdiction’s UGB.

How can I get involved? 

The City has completed its public outreach efforts. The City will hold two public hearings to allow citizens the chance to formally voice their opinions. The first will be held at the July 27, 2023 FMPC meeting and the second will be held at the August 8, 2023 BOMA meeting. The Coordinating Committee will also hold two public hearings before voting on the Growth Plan and sending it back to the jurisdictions for ratification, but those dates have not been established.  Please reach out to the staff directly if you would like to discuss any further changes to the City's recommendation.   

Process and Next Steps 

The following contains a list of meetings and efforts completed to-date: 

• August 10, 2021 BOMA Work Session—Staff provided update on the process/project
• August 12^th Virtual Community Meeting—Informational Meeting to discuss the Growth Planning Process, how it impacts Franklin, and seek public input. 
• August 26, 2021 Joint Conceptual Workshop—Staff provided project overview, recap of community meeting, present a working draft, and next steps.
• September 21 and 22, 2021 Community Meetings (Virtual and In-Person Options) 
  Recordings linked below:
  • Southwest Basins 1-4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vhNaPyKAGY 
  • Mayes Creek: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5F88l9EUY4 
  • Goose Creek: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Kjl6ORGU5o 
  • All Other Areas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loE4WVQ2LEY 
• September 23rd Joint Conceptual Workshop -  Brief update
• September 24th Open Office Hours
• September 29th Open Office Hours
• October 12th BOMA Work Session—Discussion of draft UGB, public input received, and status/next steps
• October 19th Growth Planning Symposium – This public meeting/discussion included case studies and sharing from other regions.  
• November 9, 2021 BOMA Work Session--Presentation and Discussion of working draft boundary 
• November 23, 2021 BOMA Work Session Discussion. 
• Winter 2022—Provide proposed UGB and required reports (per T.C.A) to the County to be combined into the overall County Growth Plan proposal
• April 12, 2022 BOMA Work Session to discuss property owners requesting removal from the UGB. Recording and Packet Materials
• June 14, 2022 BOMA Work Session to discuss options for revising UGB based upon property owner requests. Packet Materials
• May 9, 2023 BOMA Work Session Item 11 discuss the launching of the formal adoption process. Recording and Packet Materials
• May 25, 2023 Joint Conceptual Workshop Project Update
• July 11, 2023 BOMA Work Session Discussion of the Resolution recommending approval to the Coordinating Committee
• July 27, 2023 FMPC Public Hearing and Recommendation Vote to BOMA and the Coordinating Committee Resolution 2023-44
• August 8, 2023 BOMA Public Hearing and Vote on Resolution to the Coordinating Committee (deferral)
• August 22, 2023 BOMA passed Resolution 2023-44 with a condition of approval. 
• August 29, 2023 Williamson County Coordinating Committee to meet at the Enrichment Center at 9:00 AM.
• October 16, 2023 Williamson County Coordinating Committee meeting at the Enrichment Center at 9:00 AM.
• November 7, 2023 Coordinating Committee Public Hearing at 6:00 PM
• November 15, 2023 Coordinating Committee Public Hearing at 6:00 PM
  • Both public hearings will be held at 1320 West Main St in the Williamson County Administrative Complex. 
• November 21, 2023 Williamson County Coordinating Committee amended and approved Growth Plan. 
• February 27, 2024 BOMA to vote on ratification of Growth Plan

Resources:

Williamson County Growth Plan, as amended by the Coordinating Committee on 4/30/24 

Williamson County Growth Plan, as amended by the Coordinating Committee on 11/21/23.

Resolution 2023-44

Current UGB Draft

11/9/2021 BOMA Work Session Presentation

Updated Working Draft Boundary Map

10/12/21 BOMA Work Session Presentation

Which Meeting Should I attend Map

 UGB Working Draft Map

Map of existing Williamson County Growth Plan

Map of Franklin’s UGB with city limits

Mack Hatcher Parkway SW Conceptual Alignment

August 12, 2021 Community Meeting Presentation

August 12, 2021 Virtual Meeting Recording (View the meeting)

Envision Franklin (Land Use Plan)

Williamson County Project Webpage

Please contact Andrew.Orr@franklintn.gov with any questions or comments.