Franklin Zoning Decisions: March 2026

In March 2026, Franklin held 3 public meetings covering zoning matters. 5 zoning decisions had a recorded outcome this month: 3 approved (60% approval rate), 2 denied. Activity was up 212% compared to February (51 activity items across 1 meeting).

Zoning Decisions This Month

Parking Variance at 228 2nd Avenue South

Denied.

Variance request to reduce minimum parking from 13 spaces to 5 spaces for Porter's Call nonprofit office use. Property zoned OR (Office Residential) in historic preservation and Central Franklin overlays. Current owners operate nonprofit serving touring artists since 2019, purchased property in 2020. Site has 3 on-site spaces and 2 on-street spaces. Vote was for denial.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Front Parking Variance at 553-557 Franklin Road

Denied.

Variance denied for Century Development senior living/memory care facility to allow 6 perpendicular parking spaces in front of principal building with urban frontage. Property zoned PD within 500-foot hillside overlay buffer. Applicant Gamble Design Collaborative argued spaces needed for mobility-impaired seniors. Staff found self-imposed hardship from building redesign and conflict with Envision Franklin principles.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

HHO Boundary Revision at 354 Franklin Road

Approved.

Ordinance 2025-54 approved revising the Hillcrest Hillside Overlay (HHO) district boundaries for 202.6 acres located South of Mack Hatcher Memorial Parkway and East of Franklin Road. The applicant revised the proposed HHO line to match the conservation design concept line, providing additional buffer to residential lots along Ash Drive. The HHO line now includes the historic stone wall on its north side.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Cross-Access Waiver at 828 Murfreesboro Road

Approved.

Variance approved for Church of the City to waive cross-access connection requirement to Pershing Drive. A 2005 private landscape easement granted to Henley HOA (87 homes) restricts the 25-foot buffer to landscaping only, creating legal conflict with city connectivity requirements. Church is completing $50 million, 50,000 sq ft expansion project. Easement for future connection remains on recorded final plat.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Vesting Extension for Middle 8 PUD at 209 Old Liberty Pike

Approved.

Resolution 2026-12 approved extending vested rights for the Middle 8 PUD subdivision for 3 years until 08/08/2029. The development plan includes 38 residential units at 191 units per acre and 3,000 square feet of non-residential space on 7.2 acres. Developer Trueland requested extension due to difficulty in financial markets. Site plan was approved October 2024 but no permits pulled yet.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Zoning Changes

• HHO (existing boundaries) → HHO (revised boundaries matching conservation design concept line), 202.6 acres at 354 Franklin Road (South of Mack Hatcher Memorial Parkway and East of Franklin Road) (Greg Gamble (representative))

Top Keywords This Month

• zoning: 39 instances
• variance: 37 instances
• residential: 16 instances
• subdivision: 13 instances
• plat: 6 instances

What to Watch

• Zoning mentions were up 105% from February.
• Variance is new this month with 37 mentions, not present in February.
• Residential is new this month with 16 mentions, not present in February.
• Subdivision is new this month with 13 mentions, not present in February.

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