WILSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — For the first time in nearly 20 years, Wilson County leaders are re-evaluating what can be built on their land.
One of the concerns has been less and less farmland as new developments move in.
Tuesday night, county leaders want to hear from the public before they update the county's master land use plan.
“I think the overall message I'm getting from the public is that they want to slow down growth,” said Lauren Breeze, Wilson County Commissioner for District 18.
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Breeze said slowing down is no longer possible. "With Wilson County being right next door to Davidson, and Nashville being the city it is, has increased our growth here exponentially."
So much so that county commissioners are looking at revitalizing their master land use plan.
"So, the idea is to sit down with a map over time and say, ok this area is going to develop out to commercial, agricultural land,” Breeze said.
Back in June, Wilson County farmers held a tractor protest and packed a Wilson County planning commission after a Texas-based company showed interest in rezoning approximately 1,400 acres of agricultural land for an industrial development in Wilson County.
“This isn't an issue that just affects Wilson County, it affects everyone,” Michael Swope said.
Swope created a petition against the development. In June, the planning commission unanimously voted against the development.
Swope said it’s important for him to speak with community leaders once again Tuesday night. “What we are saying is let's preserve some agricultural land. We don’t need to preserve it all, but some because that’s where our food comes from."
The Texas-based company appealed the Wilson County planning commissioner’s decision. So now they will go before the whole county commission in December.
Tuesday’s meeting on the future of the master land use plan is being held at Cumberland University in Lebanon from 5:30 to 7:30.