Public Meetings - Germantown, Tennessee

The Germantown Planning Commission met on November 3, 2026, in the City Hall Council Chambers, 1930 S. Germantown Rd. The agenda listed the meeting start time as 6:00 p.m. The commission approved the consent agenda, two policy items, received an update on Thrive Germantown 2050, heard liaison reports, and concluded with a tribute to outgoing Mayor Mike Palazzolo. All votes were unanimous. Consent Calendar - The minutes from the September 1, 2026 Planning Commission meeting were approved unanimously. - Case 26-020, Germantown United Methodist Church (GUMC) Preschool Expansion, was moved to the consent agenda by motion of Commissioner Clark, seconded by Secretary Sisson. After the chairman asked for public comments on the item and none were offered, the commission voted unanimously to approve the request. The item was a Conditional Use Permit and Revised Final Site Plan for 0.402 acres at 7511 Second St., in the R-3 Two-Family Dwelling Residential zoning district. The applicant was GUMC, represented by UrbanARCH. Public Comments & Testimony - No members of the public spoke for or against any agenda item during the citizen comment periods for Cases 26-020, 26-019 (Public Notification Sign Policy), or 26-024 (Planning Commission By-Laws), nor during new business. Discussion Items - Item 6B - Public Notification Sign Policy (Case 26-019): Staff presented revisions to the existing policy to align with recent text amendments, including requiring public notice signs for conditional use permits (formerly uses on appeal), site plans, cell towers, planned unit developments, and variance applications. Staff also proposed adding language stating the city shall remove signs not removed by applicants within 10 days of the last action. Following executive session discussion, staff agreed to revise the word "shall" to "may" for city removal. The commission approved the revised policy unanimously. - Item 6C - Planning Commission By-Laws (Case 26-024): Staff outlined amendments to update the bylaws to accurately reflect the city ordinance and state law, and to rename the Sketch Plan Committee as the Planning Commission Work Session, open to all commissioners and held on the same date (third Thursday of the month). Commissioner Jacobs pointed out a typo in Article 5, Number 5 ("citizens to be hearing" should be "citizens to be heard"), which staff agreed to correct. He also suggested that redline versions of future bylaws be included in the initial packet for easier review. The commission approved the amended bylaws unanimously. - Item 7 - Thrive Germantown 2050 Comprehensive Plan: Staff announced an advisory committee work session to be held next month on the regular Planning Commission date, with the Board of Mayor and Aldermen invited. The work session will include outreach feedback, the proposed vision statement, catalyst sites, and proposed land uses. Commission Liaison Reports - Secretary Jennifer Sisson reported on the Tree Board, noting discussion of a tree trimming project throughout Germantown and introduction of new Parks and Recreation staff member Roberta Wills, formerly of North Carolina. - Commissioner David Clark reported on the Transportation Commission, which is working on an e-bike ordinance. A public survey on the topic was still live, and the commission is focused on educating the public about the difference between e-bikes and e-motos. Key Outcomes - The consent agenda, including the GUMC Preschool Expansion, was approved unanimously. - The revised Public Notification Sign Policy was approved unanimously, with the staff amendment changing "shall" to "may" regarding city removal of signs. - The Planning Commission By-Laws amendment was approved unanimously, subject to correcting the typo identified by Commissioner Jacobs. - Chairman McCreary (referred to as "John McCreary" in the transcript; agenda lists "Jon McCreery") delivered a tribute to Mayor Mike Palazzolo, acknowledging his 8 years on commissions, 10 years as alderman, 20 years as mayor, and over 30 years of public service. He cited accomplishments including public safety, local control of schools, the COVID-19 vaccination site, and the launch of Thrive Germantown 2050. The chairman expressed gratitude on behalf of the commission.

The Germantown Design Review Commission met on Thursday, October 27, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting included approval of consent agenda, three regular agenda items, and liaison reports. All votes were unanimous. Consent Calendar - (25-006) Watertower Place Sign Policy: Approved unanimously for a sign policy at 3164 Forest Hill-Irene Rd. Public Comments & Testimony - Leslie Bolden (2422 Yester Oaks Dr.) spoke during the public hearing for the Bodine School expansion. She raised three concerns: (1) lighting – she noted the proposed 18 light posts (four S2 lights at 61 watts each behind her house) are excessive and asked for fewer lights, lower wattage, timers to turn off by 9 p.m., and only one front light left on overnight; (2) construction on Saturdays – she requested no weekend construction and adherence to hours discussed at a July 22 neighborhood meeting (start around school start time, end at 4 p.m.); (3) appreciation for the new landscaping (16 Oakland Hollies already planted). She also noted that the construction duration was stated as one year at the neighborhood meeting but two to three years at the Planning Commission meeting. Discussion Items - (22-020) Bodine School Revised Final Site Plan: The school at 2431 Yester Oaks Dr. proposes a 23,000 sq ft addition and a smaller 3,000 sq ft addition, plus expanded queuing and parking. The school currently serves 100 students (summer program 120) and will expand to 140 students. Staff confirmed the site plan meets all zoning requirements (parking, pervious coverage, no variances). The lighting plan replaces two unshielded 30-ft MLGW streetlights with 12-ft shielded LED lights; photometric plan shows site average 0.4 foot candles and 0.1 foot candles at property lines. Commissioners discussed lighting hours and safety. John Murphy (Head of School) stated the school's needs extend only to 9 p.m. for rare events. Staff will consult with Germantown Police Department and GMSD to determine appropriate lighting hours and public safety standards. The motion to approve the revised final site plan passed unanimously. - (26-023) Discover Germantown Pack Partner Public Art Project: The city's Public Art Program seeks approval for a window decal for participating businesses in a citywide scavenger hunt featuring nine bronze wolf sculptures. The decal uses three colors (green, warm okra, ivory) and depicts a wolf. Commissioners discussed the use of an animal and colors; a commissioner requested a trademark search for the term "Pack Partner" and imagery. The motion to approve was amended to include a condition that a trademark search be conducted before final use. The amended motion passed unanimously. - (19-936) Public Notification Sign Policy Revision: Staff presented minor updates to align with recent zoning text amendments, including requiring signs for conditional use permits (like Bodine School), and requiring sign removal within 10 days of final action. Approved unanimously. - (26-022) Design Review Commission By-Laws Amendments: The by-laws were updated to reflect zoning text changes, remove subcommittee requirements, reduce meetings to one per month (fourth Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. with executive session), and align with state law on citizen comments. Approved unanimously. Key Outcomes - Bodine School: Unanimous approval of the revised final site plan, with staff directed to follow up with Germantown Police and GMSD on lighting hours to balance school needs, neighborhood concerns, and safety. - Discover Germantown Decal: Unanimous approval conditioned on a trademark search for the program's name and imagery. - Public Notification Sign Policy: Unanimous approval. - DRC By-Laws: Unanimous approval. - Liaison Reports: The Public Art Commission reported selection of seven sculptures from 41 submissions for the Greenway sculpture exhibition; the Tree Board reported $40,000 in mitigation funds for street trees on Farmington, Hacks Cross, and Kimbrough medians; the Board of Mayor & Aldermen approved the Goodwin Farms PUD and renamed the library children's section the Sharon G. Goldsworthy Children's Area. An e-bike survey received 952 responses, with majority reporting unsafe situations. - Next Steps: Commission members up for reappointment were reminded to submit applications by November 30, 2026.

The Germantown Board of Mayor and Aldermen held its regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, October 26, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Council Chambers. The meeting featured several special recognitions, a beer board hearing, approval of the consent agenda, the Goodwin Farms PUD Phase 2 final plan, and a second reading of temporary sign ordinance amendments, which were amended and passed. All votes were unanimous. Special Recognition - Beautification Commission Award – October 2026: Presented by Alderman Sanders to John Marks boutique at 9076 Poplar Pike for its autumn storefront display featuring seasonal arrangements, pumpkins, and greenery. - Education Commission Teacher of the Month – October 2026: Presented by Alderman Hicks to Kelly Martins, a first-grade teacher at Dogwood Elementary, for creating a supportive classroom and her community involvement through Harvest Church and Houston High School Orchestra. - Education Commission Youth Excellence Award – October 2026: Presented by Alderman Hicks to Jacob Lee, a senior at Houston High School with a 4.7 weighted GPA. Lee, who founded the Duck Cluck Goose Club to share his passion for raising poultry, was praised for his leadership and plans to study biophysics at the University of Michigan. - Proclamation – National Code Compliance Month: Vice Mayor Gibson, liaison to the Neighborhood Preservation Commission, presented the proclamation, emphasizing that the city's code enforcement officers prioritize helping residents become compliant over issuing tickets. - Proclamation – The Sharon G. Goldsworthy Children's Area: The Mayor read a proclamation naming the children's area of the Germantown Community Library after former Mayor Sharon G. Goldsworthy for her dedication to literacy, including achieving over 90% enrollment in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Goldsworthy, recovering from surgery, was unable to attend. Alderman Hicks and others celebrated her tireless advocacy. Public Comments & Testimony - Citizens to be Heard (Item 6): No members of the public submitted a request to speak. - Beer Board Public Hearing (Item 8): No citizens spoke for or against the La Hacienda beer permit application. - Public Hearing – Temporary Signs (Item 11): No citizens spoke during the public hearing on Ordinance 2026-7. Beer Board The Board convened as the Germantown Beer Board to consider an on-premise beer permit for La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant (7730 Wolf River Blvd). Clerk Betty confirmed the application from Mex Peck Incorporated and a clean background check. With no public testimony, Alderman Sanders questioned the applicant, owner Timor Sarwar, about his existing ABC license and employee training procedures for verifying IDs. The permit was unanimously approved. Consent Calendar The Mayor reviewed all 19 consent items, totaling roughly $2.15 million in value. An amendment was accepted for Item 9C (Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging Senior Center Grant) to formally approve the $50,000 grant and the corresponding budget adjustment 27-34. Alderman Hicks highlighted the $450,000 School Resource Officers Grant, noting it offsets costs previously borne entirely by residents. She also recognized community donations, including $2,852 to the Education Foundation via water bill donations, $6,000 for the Neighborhood Preservation Commission summit, $12,077 for the Library, and $4,500 for Parks and Recreation. The consent agenda was unanimously approved. Discussion Items - Goodwin Farms Planned Unit Development – Final Plan Phase 2: Planning Division Manager Sarah Gorleski presented the final plan for Phase 2, which contains 41 lots. The development is now composed of seven phases. The project was updated to use the current (2026) tree mitigation standards. Alderman Salvaggio, the Planning Commission liaison, praised the phasing change for improving the development and expediting fire protection access for the neighboring community. The final plan was unanimously approved. - Ordinance 2026-7 – Temporary Sign Amendments – Second Reading: Assistant ECD Director Sheila Pounder presented the ordinance to lower maximum heights for temporary signs, originally to 30 inches in residential and Old Germantown (OG/OG1) districts. Vice Mayor Gibson introduced an amendment from the floor to increase the residential/OG limit from 30 inches to 4 feet, arguing the change provides flexibility and aligns with existing conditions. Alderman Hicks seconded the amendment, stating that while she generally supports smaller signs, the inability to distinguish between realtor and campaign signs in code necessitates a larger size for practical enforcement. The amendment and the main motion as amended were unanimously approved. Key Outcomes - Unanimous Approvals: Consent Agenda, Goodwin Farms PUD Phase 2, La Hacienda Beer Permit, and Ordinance 2026-7. - Amendments: Consent Agenda Item 9C was amended to include a budget adjustment. Ordinance 2026-7 was successfully amended to set the residential temporary sign height limit at 4 feet. - Closing Remarks: The Mayor noted that applications for City boards and commissions are open through November 30. He and Vice Mayor Gibson thanked Parks and Recreation for the successful Harvest Moon Fall Festival events at Bobby Lanier Farm Park, which drew over 2,200 attendees.

The Germantown Planning Commission meeting scheduled for October 6, 2026, at 11:45 AM UTC was canceled. The agenda stated: "THE OCTOBER 6TH MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION IS CANCELED." No minutes or transcript were available, and no business was conducted. Cancellation Details - Meeting date: October 6, 2026 - Scheduled time: 11:45 AM UTC - Status: Canceled - No agenda items, discussions, or votes occurred.

The Germantown Board of Mayor and Aldermen held its regular scheduled meeting on Monday, September 28, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, Municipal Building, 1930 S. Germantown Road. The meeting included special recognitions, a consent agenda, a contested appeal of a Planning Commission decision for Bodine School, and approval of a resolution concerning Tennessee domestic abuse expunction law. The invocation was led by Assistant City Administrator Andy Sanders, and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by Vice Mayor Mary Ann Gibson. The meeting opened with a prayer remembering a contracted worker who died that day while maintaining Houston Levee Park. Special Recognitions - The Germantown Fire Department received TEMA Type II hazardous materials response team accreditation from TEMA Commissioner Patrick Sheehan and Hazmat Branch Manager Justin Anderson. City staff described GFD as Tennessee's first certified Type II team; Anderson said it is the third Type II team in the state and the first in West Tennessee. - The Beautification Commission presented the September 2026 Beautification Award to McVeigh Station. - The Germantown Education Commission presented the September 2026 Teacher of the Month award to Jesse Flesher, a fifth-grade teacher at Dogwood Elementary, and the September 2026 Youth Excellence Award to Elena Cowells, a senior at Evangelical Christian School. Consent Calendar - Alderman Brian Ulicky recused himself from the consent agenda. - Approved items included the TnWARN Mutual Aid agreement; appointment of Melody Wynne to the Neighborhood Preservation Commission; rejection of bids for holiday decorations and installation; Cameron Brown Park pedestrian bridge replacement contract ($53,156); Germantown Athletic Club Renovation Phase V contract ($4,206,815 plus $292,794 contingency); Development Contract No. 1273 for Forest Hill Heights Amended Planned Development Phase 18D; GPAC FY26 donations ($901,478); a $100,000 grant to the Germantown Education Foundation; an MOU with the DEA; a $50,000 MOU/grant with the Germantown Area Chamber of Commerce; ambulance replacement purchase ($359,379); Great Hall media room flooring and chairs purchase ($68,604); and the add-on police software purchase. - The police software item (8M) authorized purchase of GrayKey cell phone forensic software. Staff cited a $37,370 U.S. Secret Service reimbursement and budget adjustment 27-32; the Mayor's consent summary listed the impact as $37,331. The software was originally acquired through a state violent crime intervention fund grant, and the Secret Service will reimburse 100% of the purchase price in FY27. Staff requested urgency because the federal funding must be expended by the Wednesday after the meeting. - Alderman Sanders noted the holiday decoration bid rejection leaves time to rebid. - The consent agenda was approved 4-0, with Alderman Ulicky recused. Public Comments & Testimony - No speakers signed up for Citizens to Be Heard. - During the Bodine School public hearing, appellant Rand Bolden argued that Yester Oaks Drive is not designated as a major or collector street, making the conditional use illegal under the zoning code, and raised traffic, safety, drainage, and existing zoning-compliance concerns. Leslie Bolden echoed those concerns, including construction impacts, blocked driveways, mailboxes, and garbage pickup, and warned of precedent. - Anne Louise Buisaray of 2411 Yester Oaks raised traffic-safety concerns and proposed re-routing the car line to streets east of Yester Oaks. - Tim Folk of 8543 Washington Way questioned traffic assumptions and urged the board not to approve an expansion he believes violates Germantown law. - Ashley Jameson of 2402 Yester Oaks, a neighboring Bodine parent, spoke in favor of the expansion, calling Bodine a great neighbor and describing the need for 40 more children. - Whitney Ware of 8174 Ravenhill Drive, a former Bodine parent and special education teacher, raised ongoing Dogwood car-line traffic safety concerns while thanking Bodine. - Frank Ewell Horn of 8559 Dogwood Road supported Bodine, said Yester Oaks is built to collector standards, and cited short dismissal times. - Charles Tucker of 8369 Willow Oak Road and Larry Willis of 8570 Red Bud Trail Cove raised drainage and flooding concerns; Willis said his pool has flooded yearly for 20 years. Discussion Items - Bodine School Appeal: Staff reported the Planning Commission on September 1, 2026, approved a conditional use permit capping Bodine's enrollment at 140 students and a revised final site plan adding just under 26,000 square feet, including four classrooms. The plan increases enrollment from 100 to 140, adds seven staff, doubles on-site parking, and increases on-site vehicle queuing from 6 to 43 cars, reducing estimated off-site queuing from about 35 to about 15 vehicles during the school year; summer program queuing would drop from 48 to about 11 vehicles. Bodine Head of School John Murphy said the school currently serves 94 students with dyslexia and has a 30-name waiting list. - Board discussion addressed the collector-street issue, legal non-conforming use, drainage and detention, landscaping and lighting, and traffic. Assistant City Attorney Josh Whitehead said Bodine is a legal non-conforming use that may expand if nuisance and reasonable-space findings are made, and he clarified that a yes vote on the motion would favor the appellants. City Engineer Jennifer Allen said the proposed on-site underground detention would improve the site's existing runoff contribution. Several board members said the project would improve existing neighborhood conditions, including queuing and drainage. - A motion to approve the appeal, which would overturn the Planning Commission's decision, was made by Alderman Salvaggio and seconded by Alderman Hicks. - Resolution 26R16: Vice Mayor Gibson presented the resolution requesting the Tennessee General Assembly amend expunction law (TCA 40-32-106) to give judges discretion to delay expunction for up to one year for certain dismissed domestic abuse cases. She cited Judge Greg Gilbert and noted that more than 60% of Shelby County domestic abuse prosecutions are dismissed for lack of prosecution. Suburban municipalities agreed to take up similar resolutions. Key Outcomes - The agenda was set as amended to add item 8M, and the September 14, 2026 meeting minutes were approved. - The consent agenda was approved 4-0. - The Bodine School appeal was denied: the motion to overturn the Planning Commission's decision failed on a 0-5 vote, so the conditional use permit and revised final site plan remain approved and will continue through the design review process. - Resolution 26R16 was approved unanimously (5-0). The mayor is authorized to transmit copies to the Tennessee House and Senate speakers, the Tennessee Attorney General, judiciary committee chairs, and the Shelby County Legislative Delegation. - Announcements included the city's reaffirmed Triple-A bond ratings from Moody's and S&P and the opening of city board and commission applications from October 1 through November 30, 2026.

The Germantown Design Review Commission met on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers (1930 S. Germantown Rd.), following a 5:30 p.m. executive session. All six commissioners — Ms. Meanwell, Mr. Schmidt, Mr. White, Mr. Schweikoffer, Ms. Dahlgren, and Chairman Bruns — were present, establishing a quorum. The commission unanimously approved the August 25, 2026 meeting minutes and a two-item consent agenda, approved a revised sign policy for Poplar Market Place with the frosting language removed, and received an update on the Thrive Germantown 2050 comprehensive plan. Consent Calendar - Minutes — August 25, 2026 Regular Meeting: Approved unanimously by roll call vote (6-0). - Agenda change: Following the pre-meeting executive session, the commission revised the agenda, moving two items from the regular agenda to the consent agenda: (24-019) InSouth Bank and (17-729) Goodwin Farms PUD. - Case (24-019) InSouth Bank — Directional Signs, 7878 Farmington Blvd.: Approval of directional signs requested by Mitchell Signs Inc. (Zack Brewster, Project Manager) on behalf of property owner InSouth Bank (Mike Perry, EVP/COO). No commissioner or audience member asked to remove the item from the consent agenda; approved unanimously (6-0). - Case (17-729) Goodwin Farms PUD — Phase 2 Final Plan, north side of Winchester Rd. approx. 1,000 ft east of Crestwyn Dr.: Approval of the Phase 2 Final Plan requested by Regency Homebuilders, LLC (Sean Carlson). No commissioner or audience member asked to remove the item; approved unanimously (6-0). Chairman Bruns congratulated the applicant on reaching this step. Public Comments & Testimony - No members of the public were present during the citizen comment periods; the commission heard no citizen testimony on the regular agenda or under new business. Discussion Items - Case (22-029) Poplar Market Place — Revised Sign Policy, 9435-9451 Poplar Ave.: Planning staff presented the revised sign policy for the center owned by Keeneland Downs Properties, LLC (Rik Ditter, Manager). The applicant was not present. The policy was heard the previous month, when the commission requested updates including: the ability to approve logos and wording in frosted glass used as a privacy screen; the ability to approve non-off-white colors administratively; and clarification of unclear language on blade signs mounted above tenant doors. The applicant subsequently worked with staff on blade sign sizing but requested that the commission keep the frosting language in the policy. - Existing frosting at Pure Financial: Staff and Director Ross confirmed that the frosted glass with a negative-space logo installed at the Pure Financial tenant space was applied without receiving a city permit and is not in compliance with the current sign code or the center's sign policy. Staff clarified that frosting itself is not classified as a sign under the sign code — it is a facade improvement requiring design review approval — while logos or wording on frosting are regulated as signage. - Commissioner positions: Chairman Bruns stated the existing installation is done tastefully, and he sees it regularly from his neighborhood, but expressed concern that broad frosting language in the policy would allow future interpretations that could be more extreme and detrimental to the community. Commissioners discussed that the frosting was reportedly installed for employee privacy (desks and sensitive information near the window) and that no alternative solutions were discussed with staff. - Vote on the sign policy: A commissioner moved to approve the revised sign policy contingent on removal of the frosting language, later specified as Section 4 (Door and Window Graphics), Section B (frost or edge-style vinyl), so that the entire section would be struck. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously (6-0). - Next steps for the Pure Financial frosting: Staff stated the applicant will be contacted and, because the applied frosting is now out of compliance with the approved policy, must return before the Design Review Commission with a separate application for that specific tenant bay. Staff noted that a request to approve the existing installation administratively was not on the agenda and could not be considered that evening. Chairman Bruns agreed it would be best for the applicant to apply and present the bay to the commission. Old Business — Thrive Germantown 2050 Comprehensive Plan - Staff reported on the recent community visioning session, which drew very good turnout and active participation from high school students. At the Old Germantown session, residents expressed strong interest in more signage in Old Germantown, and the future of the Germantown High School site — 25 acres in the heart of Old Germantown expected to be sold within five years — was repeatedly raised. - The city has recorded over 5,000 total outreach touch points and over 1,200 direct conversations (from May through the previous week) for a city of just over 40,000 residents. - Local businesses supported the events: Sufi's restaurant donated baklava and sweet tea; Cat Sourdough and Miss Muffin donated baked goods; and Sugar Ghost ice cream offered four flavors at the Old Germantown event. - The public questionnaire and interactive map exercise remain open through October 5, 2026. Staff will be at the Neighborhood Summit on September 29, 2026, for the final push. A tutorial video for the map tool is available on Facebook, and Chairman Bruns encouraged commissioners and residents to participate. Liaison Reports - Public Art Commission: The traveling mural was displayed at the Germantown Festival and has been relocated to the fence in front of The Grove. A call for artists is open for the sculpture pads installed along the greenway. A graphic designer is working on branding for the Discover Germantown project, in which bronze wolves will be hidden in nine locations across town (three sections of three wolves each) with clues to encourage residents to explore different parts of Germantown, possibly with a prize for completing all nine. - Other announcements: Neighborhood Night Out is scheduled for Tuesday, October 6, 2026. Key Outcomes - Minutes approved unanimously (6-0). - Consent agenda approved unanimously (6-0): InSouth Bank directional signs (24-019) and Goodwin Farms PUD Phase 2 Final Plan (17-729). - Poplar Market Place revised sign policy approved unanimously (6-0) with Section 4B (frost or edge-style vinyl language) removed from the policy. - Pure Financial: The applicant will be required to submit a separate Design Review Commission application for the non-compliant frosting; the city will initiate that conversation. - Thrive Germantown 2050: Public engagement continues through October 5, 2026; the next outreach event is the Neighborhood Summit on September 29, 2026.

The Board of Zoning Appeals meeting scheduled for September 8, 2026, was cancelled. No discussions, public comments, or decisions took place. The meeting was officially cancelled as per the agenda.

The Germantown Planning Commission met on September 1, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall Council Chambers. The primary agenda item was a request by Bodine School (2432 Yester Oaks Drive) for a Conditional Use Permit and Revised Final Site Plan to expand its campus by 23,000 square feet, adding an indoor recreation space and four classrooms. After public testimony and deliberation, the commission approved the request with an amendment capping enrollment at 140 students. Consent Calendar - No consent agenda items were presented. Public Comments & Testimony - Supporters: Multiple speakers voiced strong support for Bodine School’s mission to teach dyslexic students. Thomas Crump (former city councilman, great-grandfather of a student) described the school as a “miracle” and emphasized the importance of its work. Dr. Mary McDonald (44-year Germantown resident, educator) called the school “an essential thread in the tapestry of educational excellence.” Ashley Jameson (neighbor and parent) stated that the new 43-car driveway will significantly reduce off-site queuing and that losing the school would hurt neighborhood character. Ann Brunson shared her grandson’s transformation. Frank Yulhorn (adjacent neighbor, BZA chairman) praised the school as a “terific neighbor.” Dr. Renee Lee (former head of school) and Sandra Saunders (parent) highlighted the school’s impact on children’s confidence and reading skills. Ron Spence (neighbor on Windy Oaks) supported the school but urged that Windy Oaks not be used for traffic. - Opponents/Concerns: Several neighbors expressed concerns primarily about traffic, drainage, and code compliance. Larry Willis and Cynthia Tucker asked for drainage mitigation during construction. Tim Falls questioned how traffic would be handled during the one-year construction period. Daniel French noted that Windy Oaks is too narrow for any overflow traffic and that parents cannot be controlled. Scott Sweeta described daily queuing starting at 3:00 p.m. and requested school zone signs and enforcement. Mark Buissert doubted the accuracy of traffic projections. Rand Bolden argued that Yester Oaks is not a collector street as required by zoning and cited existing code violations (lighting, dumpster screening, missed landscape commitments). Leslie Bolden (direct neighbor) stated the school promised but never installed landscaping, and that the existing street lights are a nuisance. William Waits raised drainage concerns for the southeast corner. Discussion Items - Staff Report: Director Ross presented the project details. Bodine currently houses 100 students and 29 staff; the expansion would allow up to 140 students and add 7 staff. The site currently supports 6 queuing cars on-site, resulting in 35 cars queuing off-site on Yester Oaks and Dogwood. The proposed plan adds 43 on-site queuing spaces, reducing off-site queuing to 15 cars. The school meets all zoning bulk regulations with no variances requested. Tree mitigation requires 16 trees per acre (87 total) with 21 retained and 51 planted, leaving a shortage of 15 trees and a mitigation fee of $7,500 (paid voluntarily). Yester Oaks is not currently designated a collector street but was built to collector standards. - Commissioner Questions: Commissioners asked about street classification (Yester Oaks qualifies in form but not function), flooding (a city capital project is evaluating Red Bud Trail; the school will provide over-detention), traffic during construction (enrollment will not increase until project completion), and code violations (dumpster screening and MLGW street lights will be addressed through the Design Review Commission). - Applicant Response: Head of School John Murphy emphasized that dyslexia affects 20% of the population and that Bodine is the only school in the Mid-South providing this specialized instruction. The 140-student cap is based on classroom capacity (10 students per class). He committed to re-educating parents about queuing times and to addressing landscape and lighting issues. Traffic engineer Mike Crifty (Kimley-Horn) explained that the 58-car estimate (43 on-site, 15 off-site) accounts for carpools and after-school programs. Contractor Brett Grinder confirmed full erosion control and sediment basin plans for construction. - Commission Deliberation: Commissioners stated that the project meets all conditional use findings. Commissioner Sisson noted the school’s compliance with bulk regulations and tree mitigation. Vice Chair Bacon emphasized that the plan significantly reduces on-street queuing and strongly discouraged any use of Windy Oaks as an alternative route. Commissioner Sloan highlighted that the school’s presence benefits the neighborhood. Chairman McCreary pointed out that drainage issues pre-exist the school and that the detention basin will help. He also commended the school for its textbook tree mitigation presentation. Key Outcomes - Amendment: Chairman McCreary moved to amend the motion to cap enrollment at 140 students. The amendment was seconded and passed unanimously (9-0). - Main Motion: Vice Chair Bacon moved to approve the Conditional Use Permit and Revised Final Site Plan, subject to staff conditions and the enrollment cap. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously (9-0). - Next Steps: The project will proceed to the Design Review Commission for final approval of lighting, landscaping, and other details. Code compliance issues (dumpster screening, street light replacement) are to be resolved during that process.