Ordinance 2017-09, if passed, will authorize the transfer of ownership of 0.85 acres of land, currently within the City's 31-acre Granny White Park, to Williamson County Schools. The land transfer is necessary to accommodate a new access road to the rear parking lots at Brentwood High School. A description of the project phasing follows. Construction of the access drive and installation of a new traffic signal is expected to relieve some of the traffic congestion currently occurring during peak hours on Murray Lane and Granny White Pike.
Attached are the applicable copies of the plan that has been submitted for review by the Planning Commission at its May 1, 2017 regular meeting.
WCS is proposing extensive modifications to the Brentwood Middle/High School campus. The proposed plan includes a total of three phases, which are summarized as follows:
Phase I, includes the resurfacing of the existing football field, replacing the natural grass with artificial turf. This improvement will also allow the field to be used for a variety of sports programs and other activities. The site plan was approved by the Planning Commission at its April 3, 2017 meeting.
Phase II, includes the construction of a 292-space parking lot in the area of the football practice field located at the rear of the school, west of the baseball diamond. The plan also proposes the construction of an access drive, mentioned above, to the rear parking lots from Granny White Pike. As part of these improvements the plan includes a new signalized intersection at Granny White Pike and Foxland Drive. The alignment of the new drive takes it through the SW corner of Granny White Park. City and WCS staff have discussed the transfer of approximately 0.85 acres in the SW corner to all of for the construction of the new access drive.
Phase III, includes the construction of a new Science, Technology. Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) building between the Middle and High schools. The STEM building as proposed included three-stories having an area of 40,000 sq. ft. The building will provide 24 classrooms, six mixed-use laboratories administrative offices and commons areas. The building will increase the enrollment/capacity of the high school from 1,628 to 2,000. The number of staff will also increase by 16. Brentwood High, as of March 13, 2017, has an enrollment of 1,764 students.
The proposed land transfer was presented to the Park Board at its May 1 meeting and endorsed unanimously. Following that meeting, the Planning Commission reviewed the site plan for Phase II of the project, which included the construction of the access drive from Granny White Pike to the rear parking lots at the school, and approved it unanimously.
The Williamson County Commission's Education Committee and Budget Committee have recommended approval of funding for the planned expansion of Brentwood Middle and High Schools. The recommendation included a total of $17.2 million for the Brentwood projects. The Williamson County Commission will consider funding for the planned expansion projects at its regular meeting of May 8.
Ordinance 2017-10 is a companion to Ordinance 2017-09 that is also be included as part of the agenda for the May 8th meeting. Ordinance 2017-10 proposes the rezoning of the 0.85 acres of land transferred to WCS from SI-3 to SI-2. A community meeting will be conducted during the last week of May. The Planning Commission will provide its review and recommendation of the rezoning ordinance on June 5. The public hearing is tentatively scheduled for June 13, with second and final reading scheduled for June 26. Note that approval of Ordinance 2017-10 will be contingent upon approval of the land transfer to WCS as part of Ordinance 2017-09.
Second and final reading of Ordinance 2017-09 is tentatively scheduled for the May 22, 2017 City Commission meeting. |