Massive residential, retail center on tap for West Lebanon

June 29, 2006 – Lebanon residents could be strolling through a new retail center with shops ranging from Harris Teeter to Starbucks as the proposed development cleared its first hurdle Tuesday at the Lebanon Planning Commission.
The new development residential and retail development called Hamilton Springs would include single-family houses, townhomes and duplexes as well as commercial sites along a northern portion of Highway 70, Lebanon City Planner Magi Tilton said. More than 140 lots will be developed on the 202-acre subdivision, according to the Planned Unit Development (PUD) proposal.
Commissioners unanimously approved Tuesday the new development's PUD, which could be compared to Mt. Juliet's Providence, as Hamilton Spring will sport a combination of residential and retail development.
According to initial plans submitted to the Planning Commission, possible commercial elements of the property include a grocery store such as Harris Teeter and smaller retail and restaurant buildings such as Starbucks coffee.
To give planning commissioners a better idea of the development, developers provided a detailed list of plans including pictures of comparable houses and possible decorative items for the PUD.
"From the get-go the Bell family came in with a very specific goal as far as esthetics and quality," Mike Wrye said of the family submitting the PUD.
Wrye is the representative for the Bell family, who owns the property on Highway 70 adjacent to Lexington Drive and west of Horn Springs Road.
Committee members seemed pleased with the efforts of the property owners.
"I would like to say that this whole application is so complete, that it really made life easier," planning commissioner Pam Black said, pointing to the binder of information about Hamilton Springs. "Any question I had I could look here and find the answer."
After approving a number of rezoning requests and site plans, attention moved to updates on other commission business.
Tilton informed the committee members of the next public meeting on the land use plan, which will be 6 p.m Tuesday, July 11, at city hall.
"We will present the work done to date on the land use plan," Tilton said.
"I encourage everyone to attend, it's helpful to the Planning Commission to know what the land use committee is doing," commssion chairman Robert Schmidt said.
Staff Writer Kimberly Jordan can be reached at 444-3952 ext. 16 or by e-mail kimberly.jordan@lebanondemocrat.com.