The Dickson County Planning Commission voted to approve the preliminary plat for Phase 3 of the Park Forest Subdivision, a proposed up-to-45‑lot addition on Tidwell Switch Road, after commissioners debated potential traffic and safety impacts.

The motion to approve was made by Commissioner Patrick Reagan and seconded by Commissioner Todd Lindsey. The roll call produced nine votes in favor, one opposed (Jeff Chase) and one abstention recorded by Darren Green, who stated he was working with a project partner and therefore recused himself. The chair declared the motion approved.

Why it mattered: Commissioners and residents raised concerns about the capacity and sight lines on the narrow two‑lane Tidwell/Bridal Switch Road, which several speakers said already carries construction vehicles and truck traffic for nearby businesses. County counsel and staff explained that, under current county rules, an accepted trigger for a traffic impact study is a subdivision in excess of 50 lots; the preliminary plat before the commission lists 45 lots and therefore does not meet that threshold.

What applicants said: The applicant’s consultant said phases 1 and 2 were largely built out and that phases 3 and 4 fall under newer lot-size rules; lots in the pending phase are mostly 1.5 acres or larger. The consultant said soils have been reviewed and that the developer is seeking up to 45 lots but that the final lot count could fall slightly (he estimated 42–43 in some scenarios). “We’re asking for 45 lots. But when we come back for the final, it may go down,” the consultant said.

Concerns on cumulative impacts and phasing: Several commissioners pressed whether breaking a larger development into multiple phases could avoid traffic‑study triggers. County counsel clarified the county evaluates triggers based on the preliminary plat as submitted and that a preliminary plat is a vesting document that applies the regulations in place at the time it is filed. Commissioners said they were not opposed to development but urged a longer-term look at cumulative impacts on smaller roads and discussed forming a subcommittee to study sequential development along rural routes.

Other details: The submitted materials included tax map references read aloud at the meeting; the preliminary plat also shows a proposed common-area mailbox kiosk that the applicant said would be owned and maintained by the homeowners association.

Next steps: With preliminary approval granted, the applicant may return with a final plat for recordation; commissioners also agreed to explore a small subcommittee to research how similar counties handle sequential, incremental development and traffic triggers.