Design Review Commission Meeting - August 26, 2025
Design Review Commission Meeting - August 26, 2025
The Design Review Commission of Germantown, Tennessee met on August 26, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting included approval of minutes, a consent agenda with three items, and a single regular agenda item for a new UT Martin classroom building at Wildwood Farm. All items were approved unanimously.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes from July 22, 2025: Approved unanimously.
- (15-524) TraVure PD, Phase 4 (Revised Final Plan for office/retail building): Approved as part of consent agenda.
- (24-007) Rio Lobo Cantina – Sign Package (1 wall sign, 1 ground sign): Approved as part of consent agenda.
- (24-007) Rio Lobo Cantina – Building Modification (Paint): Approved as part of consent agenda.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke during the public comment period for the regular agenda item.
Discussion Items
- (21-024) Wildwood Farm (UT Martin Education Building) – Request for approval of a Preliminary and Final Site Plan for a new 7,700-square-foot classroom building for the University of Tennessee Martin Equine Education Program. The building will be located on the approximately 350-acre Wildwood Farm, zoned R-1 single-family residential, at 2737 S. Germantown Rd. A use-on-appeal had been granted in 2021, and the Planning Commission had previously approved the site plan on August 5, 2025. The building will accommodate about 30 day students and faculty, with no overnight stays. The design incorporates materials (white brick, simulated wood doors, metal roof) that complement existing farm structures without imitation. The entrance drive and parking layout emphasize the arrival experience and site context. Lighting levels (1.4 foot-candles) exceed the manual’s recommendation for R-1 zones, but staff noted the nearest residences are over 1,000 feet away. No existing buildings will be demolished. The applicant, architect Scott Van Ryot of LRK, presented the design. Commissioners praised the project for its sensitivity to the site and spatial experience.
Key Outcomes
- Motion to approve Wildwood Farm site plan (as presented and discussed) by Commissioner White, seconded by Commissioner Schmidt. The vote was unanimous (8-0) in favor: Ms. Meanwell (yes), Mr. White (yes), Mr. Schmidt (yes), Mr. Nischwitz (yes), Mr. Schweikoff (yes), Ms. Kimbrough (yes), Alderman Hicks (yes), Chairman Bruns (yes). Approval of the site plan allows the applicant to proceed to the city’s engineering department for construction plan review.
Meeting Transcript
I'd like to welcome everyone to the City of Germantown Design Review Commission meeting for August 26, 2025. At this time, I'd like to establish a quorum. Please call roll. Miss Meanwell. Here. Mr. White. Here. Mr. Schmidt. Here. Mr. Nischwitz? Here. Mr. Schweikoff. Here. Miss Kimbrough. Alderman Hicks. Here. Chairman Bruns. I am here and we do have a quorum. Thank you all for being here. For citizens' comments. I see we have some with us tonight, and I appreciate that, but we will we'll invite you to speak with any the item, the agenda item you're here to speak about when that comes before us. So now we will approve the minutes from the July 22nd, 2022 meeting. I'll then retain a motion. Move to approve. Second. Thank you both. Please call roll. Miss Meanwell. Yes. Mr. White. Yes. Mr. Schmidt? Yes. Mr. Nishwitz? Yes. Mr. Schweikoffer? Yes. Ms. Kimbrough? Yes. Alderman Hicks? Yes.
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