Germantown Planning Commission Meeting – August 5, 2025

The Germantown Planning Commission met on August 5, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers. The sole agenda item was a request for approval of a Preliminary and Final Site Plan for the Wildwood Farm (UT Martin Education Building) at 2737 S. Germantown Road. Commissioners unanimously approved the application subject to staff and technical review committee conditions.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes (July 1, 2025): Approved unanimously by roll call vote (7 yes votes).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Three citizens (Rick Shields, Cindy Wright, Jay Lamey and Julie Cochran) submitted cards to speak during the public hearing portion. When called, none chose to address the commission. No other public comments were made.

Discussion Items

• Wildwood Farm (UT Martin Education Building) – Case 21-024: The project proposes a 7,700 sq. ft. education building with 44 parking spaces to house an equine sciences program for up to 30 students and one faculty member. The site is a 350-acre horse farm zoned R Residential; a use-on-appeal had been granted by the Board of Zoning Appeals in 2021. Staff, the applicant’s attorney (Marty Regan, representing the Melanie S. Taylor Marital Trust), and engineers (LRK, Davis) presented details.
• Conservation Easement: The property is to be placed under a perpetual conservation easement administered by the Land Trust of Tennessee after Melanie Taylor’s lifetime, with ultimate transfer to UT Martin via the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis. Commissioners questioned the long-term restrictiveness; Regan confirmed the trust documents and lease with UT Martin are designed to prevent future development beyond the approved building.
• Traffic and Infrastructure: A left-turn lane on Germantown Road will be added (100 ft. stack, 115 ft. taper). Fire marshal Clint Storms noted a secondary waterline loop will be reviewed during construction plan review.
• Future Expansion: The use-on-appeal and the easement restrict any additional buildings without returning to the BZA and the Planning Commission. Applicants stated the project scope is fixed with UT Martin’s approved budget and no master plan for further residential or commercial use.
• Commissioner Questions: Members asked about the conservation easement’s enforceability, the possibility of future development, waterline improvements, and the long-term vision. Regan and Davis reaffirmed the restrictive documents and the applicant’s intent to preserve the property as a horse farm.

Key Outcomes

• Motion: Vice Chair Bacon moved to approve the Preliminary and Final Site Plan for Wildwood Farm (UT Martin Education Building) subject to conditions, general requirements, and TAC comments.
• Second: Provided by Commissioner Sloan.
• Vote (Roll Call): All seven commissioners present voted YES. (Bacon, Levy, Sloan, Jacobs, Alderman Salvaggio, Chairman McCreery, Mayor Palazzolo).
• Result: The site plan is approved and will proceed to the Design Review Commission for detailed building material and landscaping review.
• Next Steps for Public: The applicant aims to begin construction within two years, pending fundraising and state approval.
• Liaison Reports: Chairman McCreery announced a Sketch Plan meeting on August 21, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. for an upcoming project.