Germantown Planning Commission Meeting – November 5, 2024

The Germantown Planning Commission convened at 6:00 p.m. on November 5, 2024, at City Hall in Council Chambers. The commission approved the minutes from the October 1, 2024 meeting and then addressed three regular agenda items: a revised final site plan for Little Georgie's Daycare, a waiver of the payment-in-lieu of tree replacement fee for Wilder PUD Phase 1 (Lots 65–72), and a similar waiver for Viridian Place PUD Phases 1 and 2. All votes were unanimous except for the amended motion on the Wilder waiver, which passed 4–3.

Approval of Minutes

• The minutes from the October 1, 2024 meeting were unanimously approved.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public spoke for or against any of the three agenda items during the public hearing portions of each case.

Discussion Items

• Little Georgie's Daycare (Case 24-015) – Staff presented a request to convert an existing 1950s house on St. George's campus (8235 Dogwood Rd.) into an infant daycare room, expanding the existing accessory daycare use up to 144 students total. The site plan includes expanded parking and circulation changes. Applicant Luke Pruitt (Head of School) stated there is a waiting list of over 200 for infant care, that 50% of families have multiple children or faculty members, and that two neighboring concerns about traffic had been resolved. Commission members noted the thoughtful planning, the need for daycare in the community, and the challenges of retrofitting a 1950s building for daycare (fire protection). The revised final site plan was unanimously approved.
• Wilder PUD Phase 1 – Lots 65-72 (Case 20-006) – The developer requested a waiver from the requirement to plant two trees per lot and from paying the payment-in-lieu tree replacement fee (Sec. 22-108(d)). The issue arose because MLGW imposed a 16-foot utility easement (previously 10 feet) after final plat approval, making it impossible to plant trees in the front yard. The city arborist recommended the payment-in-lieu fee ($600 per lot for 2024). After extensive discussion, the commission voted on an amendment to reduce the fee by 50% (to $300 per lot) to compromise, acknowledging the unique circumstances and the developer had worked with the city on a water tower land swap. The amendment passed 4–3 (Sisson, Levy, Jacobs, McCreery in favor; Clark, Sloan, Huisman? Actually Sloan and Clark voted no). The original motion then carried as amended.
• Viridian Place PUD Phases 1 & 2 (Case 23-028) – The developer requested a similar waiver for 109 lots in a T4 SMART code district. Staff explained that the ordinance (Sec. 22-108) was never intended for small lots and SMART code developments, and that the tree requirement had not been formally captured in the original approval. The commission unanimously approved the waiver, noting that the lots have common open space with trees and that the city will pursue a text amendment to clarify the ordinance. Multiple commissioners stressed that this action sets no precedent.

Key Outcomes

• Little Georgie's Daycare: Approved unanimously (6-0) – revised final site plan.
• Wilder PUD Phase 1 (Lots 65-72): Motion to approve waiver of tree replacement fee and payment-in-lieu was amended to reduce the fee by 50%. The amended motion passed 4–3, effectively approving a waiver of the tree planting requirement but requiring a $300 per lot payment-in-lieu (reduced from $600).
• Viridian Place PUD Phases 1 & 2: Approved unanimously (6-0) to waive the payment-in-lieu of tree replacement fee.
• Liaison Reports: The Board of Zoning Appeals reported on a sign appeal for Madonna Learning Center, which will come before the commission in the future.