2019S-081-005

Due to recent changes in Tennessee state law and subsequent amendments to Planning Commission rules (effective March 2023), final plats for projects with more than 25 lots now require Planning Commission consideration, even if a preliminary plan was previously approved.

Recent state law changes (around March) have significantly altered the administrative approval process for final plats, shifting more responsibility back to the Planning Commission for larger subdivisions (over 25 lots), even if concept and final site plans were previously approved by staff.

Due to a state law change around March 2023, Metro Planning staff's administrative approval authority for final plats has significantly expanded: they can now approve up to 5 lots (previously 2) under certain criteria, and up to 25 lots for subdivisions with prior concept plan approval. Plats exceeding 25 lots still require Planning Commission approval.

For projects with previously approved concept and final site plans, the Planning Commission may be required to review a final plat due to new state law, but often has no substantive basis to disapprove if the plan is consistent with prior approvals and is protected by state vesting laws.

Detailed grading plans and their potential impacts are often not fully reviewed or considered by the Planning Commission until the final plat approval stage, rather than at earlier conceptual stages.

The platting process involves three steps: a Concept Plan (reviewed by the Planning Commission), a Final Site Plan (administrative, regardless of lot count), and a Final Plat (administrative for smaller projects, but requiring Commission review for over 25 lots due to recent state law changes).

The standard subdivision approval process involves three steps: Concept Plan (reviewed by Planning Commission), Final Site Plan (administrative staff review for consistency), and Final Plat (final recording, now potentially back to commission for large projects). Construction can begin after Final Site Plan approval.

The Metro Nashville subdivision approval process typically involves three steps: concept plan, final site plan (construction documents), and final plat. The latter two are often administratively approved by staff if they are consistent with the approved concept plan and have received recommendations from other reviewing agencies like Public Works/NDOT and Stormwater.