The Mt. Juliet Planning Commission last week approved a 586-home development near Golden Bear Gateway.
They voted 5-1-1 to forward a preliminary master development plan for The Sutton, a mixed-use commercial and residential development, to the Mt. Juliet Board of Commissioners.
Barge Design Solutions, a Nashville-based architectural firm, plans to build the project on approximately 74 acres.
The Sutton will have over 586 homes and 102,132 square feet of commercial space.
Developers requested the Planning Commission to classify 27 acres of The Sutton as a single-family residential development.
They said this request was for the development’s 63 single family homes.
However, city officials said the city’s land use plan does not support the developer’s request.
Planning Commission member Linda Armistead said it would be better to have fewer multi-family homes, even though they are not part of the land-use amendment.
“The less families we can have with these single-family units rather than multi-family homes would be my preferred option,†said Armistead.
Cherie Akers, Client Service Leader for Barge Design Solutions, said they are only requesting this amendment so they could build single-family homes for The Sutton.
She provided a visual presentation of the development to the Planning Commission.
“We feel we’ve taken great pride in developing and designing this project by being good stewards of the land,†said Akers.
She said they could still build more townhomes in this part of The Sutton if the Planning Commission does not support the land-use amendment.
The Planning Commission agreed to support this amendment after the presentation.
Barge Design Solutions will develop The Sutton in nine phases.
It will include a mix of 290 one-bedroom units, 158 townhomes, 109 two-bedroom units, 63 single-family units, and 29 three-bedroom units.
The developers plan to have a supermarket and some restaurants and retail outlets for The Sutton.
“We simply want to create a town center that could bring people together in Mt. Juliet,†said Akers.
She said they looked at McEwen Northside, an urban community in Franklin, as their inspiration for The Sutton.
Amenities include a trailhead, dog parks, trails, a pool, a splash pad, a greenway, a town square, outdoor grilling space, a fire pit, a business center, a golf simulator, a coffee lounge and cabanas.
Akers said the developers are willing to cooperate with the Planning Commission on any concerns they may have with The Sutton.
Planning Commissioner Chairman Luke Winchester said the project’s layout could make it confusing for people not living in the development.
Planning Commission member Art Giles, who voted against The Sutton, questioned the developers on buying the property for the development without giving any developer a chance to bid on it.
“Why are we not giving any other bidder a chance to buy this property?,†said Giles.
Mt. Juliet City Planner Jon Baughman said that while a project on a major thoroughfare raises many concerns, The Sutton is still a solid development.
“We will make The Sutton accessible and walkable to everyone,†said Akers.
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