Germantown Planning Commission Meeting – December 2, 2025
Germantown Planning Commission Meeting – December 2, 2025
The Germantown Planning Commission met on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. The commission approved minutes from the November 4, 2025 meeting, and considered four regular agenda items: a wireless transmission facility co-location, a shopping center subdivision and parking reduction, a new Hattie B's Hot Chicken restaurant, and annual municipal code amendments. The meeting included extended debate on the cell tower application regarding a proposed utility pole, resulting in an amended approval. All other items passed unanimously.
Consent Calendar
- No consent calendar items were presented.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke for or against any agenda item.
Discussion Items
Case 25-021: MLGW Tower #1847 – Verizon Wireless Co-location
- Staff presented a request for a new 130-foot monopole within an existing MLGW transmission tower on city-owned property near Houston High School, to replace an unsafe tower at Grace Evangelical Church. The need for a new power pole in a resident's backyard (on Dogwood Grove) prompted extensive discussion. Chairman McCreary proposed an amendment requiring the applicant to use existing power poles (or double-pole) rather than adding a new pole. After debate, the amendment passed 5-3-1 (Sloan, Levy, Jacobs, Salvaggio, McCreary in favor; Sisson, Bacon, Clark opposed; Mayor Palazzolo abstained). The final site plan, as amended, was then approved unanimously (9-0).
Case 15-502: Germantown Village Square – Subdivision & Parking Reduction
- The commission approved a two-lot subdivision of the shopping center to create a 0.37-acre outparcel, and a parking reduction from 914 to 877 spaces based on a conservative parking utilization study. Both motions passed unanimously.
Case 25-011: Hattie B's Hot Chicken – Preliminary & Final Site Plan
- A 2,975-square-foot restaurant with outdoor patio and five justifiable design alternatives (JDAs) was approved. The commission noted the applicant's proactive work during sketch plan review and the compatibility with the T5 Urban Center zoning. The motion passed unanimously.
Case 25-017: Municipal Code Amendments (Annual Update)
- Staff presented amendments to Chapters 6, 17, and 23 covering use tables, process changes (e.g., 10% administrative modifications, conditional use permits), and clarifications on nonconformities, accessory structures, and subdivision regulations. Council introduced five amendments during the meeting, including correcting a district reference and clarifying lot requirements in subdivision approvals. The amended package passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Case 25-021 (Verizon Tower): Approved with amendment requiring power to be drawn from existing poles, avoiding a new pole in a resident's backyard. Final vote: 9-0.
- Case 15-502 (Village Square Subdivision): Approved. Vote: 9-0.
- Case 15-502 (Parking Reduction): Approved. Vote: 9-0.
- Case 25-011 (Hattie B's): Approved. Vote: 9-0.
- Case 25-017 (Code Amendments): Approved with five amendments. Vote: 9-0.
- Commission liaison reports were received from the Board of Zoning Appeals, Parks & Recreation Commission, Transportation Commission, Tree Board, Sketch Plan, and BMA.
- The meeting adjourned without further business.
Meeting Transcript
Hi, here we go. Good evening, everybody, and welcome to the December 2nd, 2025 as Jonathan Town Commission. My name is John McCoy. I'm as story as you can believe our microphone's call giving us a little bit of trigger for announcing on to the record for public records. So if everybody tonight could speak up accordingly, that would be helpful. Ms. Chairman and Ms. Haddock, maybe proceed, please. Mr. Slow? Here. Ms. Sistan? Here. Mr. Bacon? Here. Mr. Levy? Here. Mr. Clark? Here. Mr. Jacobs? Here. Alterman South Azure? Here. Charlie McCreary. Here. Maybe I pause or thank you, Ms. Holly. I'd like to remind everybody we've got to copy us to do as agenda locally online and agenda tends to calendar. And we've got a copy available for electrical if you want to own one. As a matter of courtesy for those words on the air, we present in mind I'll explain our own procedures. The order on today's post for the agenda will be right by the fair question. Staff will then give the report. After the staff report, commission members will be asked to be an opportunity questions of staff. Following the personal questions and clarifications of the staff, we'll have a presentation of the applicant, and after presentation by the applicant, the commissioners will be able to ask questions of the applicant. Once the commission questions are happening or complete, we'll break into a public hearing for the agenda items required by state law, and the public will be given the chance to make comments for or against that agenda item. Once the public comments are complete, we'll go back to the regular agenda and our vice chair will make a motion by second. At that time, members of commission will be able to discuss the case amongst themselves and make comments. Once the commission discussions and comments are complete, we'll ask for a final roll call vote. If you wish to make comments tonight, as part of our phase, we'll ask for four out of those to be at fate. I think those are all free are possible outside of people street, and we can bring that up front and hand it to any of our staff members located. And when that item is filed, and we'll move to the public hearing portion of the agenda item to make a comments. We are definitely a supporter of community involvement, and we'll welcome our statement comments and regular comments, and respectful of the fact that you've taken time away from your work and family or be here tonight, but we do ask that the comments be made within the time frame allowed. At this point, I'd like to make our conflict of interest statement. Last time I asked everybody's files of four things for the up to rights procedures, and with our procedures explain or approval of the minutes. Can we get a motion for approval or the last one, please?
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