Germantown Planning Commission Meeting – December 3, 2024

The Germantown Planning Commission met on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers at 1930 S. Germantown Rd., following a 5:30 p.m. executive session. There was no consent agenda. The commission approved the November 5, 2024, meeting minutes, heard public testimony on two regular agenda items, approved a final plan for Forest Hill Heights Amended PD Ph 18D, and saw the Lana Sweet Abode preliminary plat application withdrawn by the applicant.

Minutes Approval

• The commission approved the November 5, 2024, meeting minutes by roll call vote. Voting yes: Mr. Clark, Mr. Levy, Mr. Jacobs, and Ms. Sisson. Abstaining: Mr. Salvaggio and Chairman Bacon.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public spoke during the general citizen comments portion at the beginning of the meeting.
• For Case 24-001, three neighboring residents spoke in opposition. Joe Lyle, a 50-year neighbor, said the existing house on the property has been unmaintained and questioned whether six new houses could work. Cody Gross of 2191 Misty Hollow expressed concern about stormwater impacts on existing homes below the site. Jack Ronald Tickle of 2275 Wickersham raised concerns about private lift-station maintenance, traffic safety, water accumulation, and density, suggesting only two or three houses might be appropriate. A letter of opposition was also included in the meeting packet.
• For Case 24-006, no members of the public spoke for or against the application.

Discussion Items

Case 24-001 – Lana Sweet Abode Subdivision (Preliminary Plat Request)

• The proposed 3.346-acre site at 2251 Kimbrough Rd. and 8140 Dogwood Grove Dr. sought preliminary plat approval for a 7-lot subdivision. City staff presented the plan, including two common open space areas: one for a consolidated mailbox with parking and one for a private sewer lift station.
• Staff noted the plan would remove 192 trees, replant 35 trees, and satisfy the remainder through a payment-in-lieu fee. Staff certified the application as meeting the zoning ordinance, but not all subdivision regulations, due to unresolved Technical Advisory Committee comments.
• Public Works Director Mills expressed concerns about the private lift station being located in front of a home and adjacent to Kimbrough Road, a major boulevard, citing overflow, maintenance, redundancy, and stormwater risks from the significant grade change on the site.
• Applicant representative Tim McCaskill argued that rear-loaded garages were not feasible because of lot depth and grade, said the applicant would gladly connect to a gravity sewer if permitted, stated the cluster mailbox would be maintained by the HOA, and said the applicant wanted to build a public water line to city standards.
• Commissioners raised concerns about unresolved engineering and public works comments, drainage and steep slopes, traffic access onto Kimbrough Road, long-term lift-station maintenance, HOA responsibilities, tree canopy loss, and whether the overall concept was developmentally sound. Commissioner Sisson noted there had been eight rounds of staff comments, three formal applications, and at least 22 unresolved engineering comments plus five public works comments.
• A motion to approve the preliminary plat was made and seconded, but during discussion the applicant agreed to withdraw the application and submit a new application. No vote was taken on the preliminary plat.

Case 24-006 – Forest Hill Heights Amended PD Ph 18D (The Square at Forest Hill Heights)

• The applicant sought final plan approval for two parcels totaling 3.656 acres on the south side of Winchester Road, east of Forest Hill-Irene Road, in T5 Urban Center zoning.
• Staff presented a plan with two buildings of approximately 13,000 square feet each sharing a common parking area. The request included five warrants, later renamed justified design alternatives, related to building frontage, excess parking, parking screening, parking in front of buildings, and third-layer parking.
• Staff supported the design alternatives because the site is constrained by easements, a 60-foot setback in the Forest Hill Heights outline plan, and the surrounding development context.
• Applicant Donny Singh of Singh Development said the tenant mix would be about 50% food and beverage, 25% boutique retail services, and 25% office retail, with no drive-throughs. He estimated roughly seven to eight tenants across the two buildings.
• Commissioners praised the applicant for responding to sketch-plan feedback, combining both parcels, and proposing a higher-quality, cohesive development for the corridor. No public comments were received.

Key Outcomes

• Case 24-001: The Lana Sweet Abode Subdivision preliminary plat application was withdrawn by the applicant. The applicant indicated it would submit a new application, and no commission vote was taken.
• Case 24-006: The commission unanimously approved the final plan for Forest Hill Heights Amended PD Ph 18D, subject to the conditions, general requirements, technical comments, plans and documents submitted, and the five requested warrants/justified design alternatives.
• The meeting adjourned after brief closing remarks from the chairman recognizing the commission and staff for their work during the year.