The Rutherford County Planning Department hopes to promote a strong employment base, high quality of life and superior educational system while protecting natural resources, diversity and rural communities with its proposed comprehensive land-use plan. The plan will act as a roadmap for all future development in the county. TMP/P. Estes-Simpson

For the past two years, the Rutherford County Regional Planning Commission has worked to map the future of development and the work is getting close to paying off.

Since 2008 the commission has worked on a countywide, comprehensive land-use plan to guide development in Rutherford County for the foreseeable future.

“The comprehensive plan will provide a vision, based on citizen input, for how the county will develop over time and continue to provide a high quality of life for its residents,” Rutherford County Planning Director Doug Demosi said.

Demosi explained the comprehensive plan will provide a road map for future development in the county and help the planning commission and Rutherford County Commission “make fair and consistent decisions on future projects.”

Rutherford County has seen tremendous growth over the past 20 years and, according to planning commission projections, that growth will continue.

“Based on the projected population for Rutherford County and the current regulations, 78 percent of the undeveloped land in the county would be developed by 2035,” Demosi said.

This growth, if allowed unchecked, will tax the existing infrastructure by putting stress on schools, transportation and the tax base of the county.

Demosi hopes to avoid these stressors with the comprehensive plan, which recommends a “suburban belt” approach to future development.

The “suburban belt” recommendation keeps high-density growth near Murfreesboro and Smyrna with places a belt of suburban development around the two cities with low-density growth encouraged along the rural borders of the county.

It also encourages conservation in areas with slope or soil issues.

“In addition to these large character areas are the mixed-use nodes that are located around the county,” Demosi said. “The nodes would allow a mix of residential, commercial and office-type uses.”

Demosi said this approach would promote a strong employment base, high quality of life and superior educational system while protecting natural resources, diversity and rural communities.

“The plan will also provide direction for developers and homeowners on the future land use, transportation and utility networks, and policies guiding the future development of the county,” he said, “thereby enabling landowners to protect their investments and focus their efforts.”

If approved by the planning commission and county commission, the plan will guide land use by encouraging sustainable growth by following these 10 basic tenants:

• Ensure growth policies that recognize land is a limited resource and that growth should occur where suitable land use and public services can be economically provided;

• Cultivate an environment attractive to new business investment and retention and expansion of existing businesses;

• Strengthen rural communities;

• Protect and enhance open spaces in a connected network of parks, trees and stream corridors in creating a healthy environment;

• Provide neighborhoods that create a sense of community and connectedness;

• Conserve and enhance significant natural landscapes and historic and cultural resources.

• Provide transportation options;

• Provide infrastructure that efficiently delivers necessary service in designated growth areas;

• Maintain and enhance community and regional partnerships; and

• Ensure the development decision-making process is transparent, fair and accountable to residents and taxpayers.

By following these tenants, Demosi wants to overhaul the county’s current zoning resolution, which hasn’t seen significant changes since 1985. He also expects to take a hard look at the county’s subdivision regulations after the comprehensive plan is finalized.

But before the plan goes before and planning and county commissions, it needs public input.

Staff from the Rutherford County Planning and Engineering Department will hold a public meeting to gather input at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 10 in the Consolidated Utility District office, 709 New Salem Rd., in Murfreesboro.

A copy of the draft comprehensive plan can be found at rutherfordcountytn.gov/planning or by calling 898-7730.

“After the public comments have been addressed, we plan on holding another public hearing with the planning commission,” Demosi said, adding the plan will then be voted on by the planning commission and sent to the full county commission for approval.

“If they choose to do so, the plan becomes binding and all land use decisions must be consistent with it,” he said.

In the meantime, work continues on the zoning resolution and subdivision regulations, which will also be available for public review in the near future.