Rutherford County Commission Votes to Amend Comprehensive Plan
Rutherford County – TN (01/23/2026) Rutherford County Commission has voted 12-9 to send the Comprehensive Plan titled Plan Rutherford back to the Planning Commission to consider a modification in a special called commission meeting last night.
The vote comes after nearly five years of open houses and information events that allowed attendees to learn about and provide feedback on the comprehensive growth plan. This plan was to update the previous plan adopted on April 25, 2011.
The modification desired is regarding the Rural Living Character Area, allowing a higher end density of up to two units per acre instead of one.
Rutherford County Commission Chairman Jeff Phillips has been involved with the study, research, and planning to update the current 20 year plan.
“Results are not what I expected or what the Rutherford County Regional Planning Commission approved, but I am confident Plan Rutherford will pass,” Phillips said. “I plan to support the decision and recommendation made by the Rutherford County Commission.”
Rutherford County District 16 Commissioner Phil Dodd made the motion to amend the plan.
“The political system worked well in Rutherford County at last night’s Plan Rutherford public hearing,” Dodd said. “I commend Chairman Phillips for managing the debate on such a critical matter with patient authority. I commend the efforts of the Planning Commission and the Plan Rutherford Steering Committee. And especially, I commend Doug Demosi and the entire Rutherford County Planning Department staff for their tireless efforts on Plan Rutherford. Having said that, I have felt strongly, for the duration of the Plan’s evolution, that a base line of lot size of one acre or greater in the Rural Living portion of the Plan map is detrimental to the affordability of new homes. This large minimum lot size as a base line is also harmful to potential income to landowners. I look forward to ultimately casting a vote of support for the Plan at an upcoming Commission hearing.”
The county partnered with Middle Tennessee’s regional planning and economic development agency, the Greater Nashville Regional Council, to help develop the update to the comprehensive plan.
More information about the plan can be found at https://www.planrutherford.org/. A recording of the meeting can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3uY5EtW5Bc .