Parsons Brinkerhoff got the nod from Rutherford County’s Regional Planning Commission Monday afternoon to develop a comprehensive planning to guide sustainable growth in the future.
The planning commission voted unanimously to accept the Comprehensive Planning Steering Committee’s recommendation of the Nashville office of the international engineering firm.
“It seems like we’re getting the most bang for the buck,” county Planning Director Doug Demosi said. “ They had a better understanding of the project than the other firms did.”
Parsons Brickerhoff won out over McBride Dale Clarion, MacTec, and Benchmark, CMR to get the commission’s approval.
The engineering firm will partner with Ragan Smith, Bill Terry & Associates and MTSU faculty from the Business and Economic Research Center.
The use of local talent wasn’t the tipping point in choosing this firm, but just the thought of making the Comprehensive Plan economically sustainable was, Steering Committee member Lynnisse Patrick said.
“It wasn’t so much that it was MTSU but the need for this kind of analysis when taking it to the county commission,” Patrick said.
Steering Committee Member Mark Lee concurred.
“Economic stability is key to their plan,” Lee said. “Some of the other firms didn’t se how key that is to the plan. … These people made it an integral part.”
Parsons Brickerhoff will also examine similar counties from across the nation and hold meetings with city governments in Rutherford County as well as surrounding counties to gather suggestions for the plan.
Public hearings will also be held to gather input on how the Rutherford County community sees itself in the future.
After County Mayor Ernest Burgess negotiates a contract with the firm and the contract passes the county commission, the entire process should take about two years.
The county’s comprehensive plan will be developed by Parsons Brickerhoff and will be similar to the land-use plans developed for the Blackman Community, Christiana/Buchanan area, the North Corridor and Salem Pike area.
Community land-use plans were developed to guide traditionally rural communities into the future as nearby cities, like Murfreesboro, expand and growth swallows farmland.
Currently, the county has no comprehensive plan and the zoning resolution hasn’t been overhauled since 1985. The goal is for work to begin on the Comprehensive Plan by early spring of next year. Demosi expects to take a hard look at the Zoning Resolution and Subdivision Regulations soon after.
Michelle Willard can be contacted at 615-869-0816 or mwillard@murfreesboropost.com.
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