Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Lebanon public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
50 issues
Proposed Utility and Development Fee Adjustments
The committee will consider changes to utility, inspection, plan review, and capacity fees, along with aligning planning fees with new state legislation timelines.
Downtown Water Main Replacement Project
Staff will review bids for replacing old cast iron water mains on several downtown streets, which came in under budget.
FBO management and tenant compliance at Lebanon Municipal Airport
Next year's airport management contract is on the horizon. The Airport Commission will form a committee when renewal time comes, and the City's finance and public works staff are already preparing.
Comprehensive Update to Subdivision Regulations
The city's subdivision rules got a full refresh — outdated info removed, conflicts with the zoning code cleaned up, and changes folded in for the new development process required by state law (Public Chapter 1044). This affects how all future subdivisions get designed and approved.
Lifepoint Health Free Standing Emergency Department
A new free-standing emergency department is one step closer on 2.1 acres at 3940 Hwy 109 N, with preliminary site plan approval on the consent agenda — expanding emergency care access in Ward 6.
Airport finances
The airport beat its revenue budget by more than $75,000 while keeping spending in check. New lease formats will include a standard 7.5% increase every five years, and the Cracker Barrel lease renewal is coming up.
New Aviation Education and Museum Facilities on Franklin Road
Deborah Baugh's aviation education facilities won commission backing to add training and schooling as a permitted use — a change needed to secure education-related funding. The amendments now go to City Council.
Pedestrian Priorities Plan implementation and sidewalk widths
Resident Jim Bethel raised concerns that planned sidewalk widths on Carver Lane and connecting trails were scaled back (8 ft to 6 ft, 6 ft to 4.5 ft), raising safety worries for walkers and cyclists sharing trails. He also asked when the 2025 plan's projects will actually be built.
Staff Decision Appeal at 121 S Cumberland St
Shawn McBrien appealed a staff decision regarding a property located at 121 S Cumberland St in Ward 3.
Conditional Use Request at 1279 Bluebird Rd
Lacey King requested conditional use approval for a property located at 1279 Bluebird Rd in Ward 2.
Sign Variance Request at 806 Phelan Dr
Gary McNabb requested a sign variance for a property located at 806 Phelan Dr in Ward 2.
Utility Notification System
Lebanon is setting up new, dedicated phone numbers for water, sewer, and trash emergencies to get you help faster when things break. No more guessing who to call—just quicker fixes for your neighborhood.
Proposed Wastewater Treatment Plant Location and Annexation Concerns
Residents expressed intense opposition to proposed sewer plant sites near residential neighborhoods, raising concerns about chemical safety, truck traffic, and odor. Several speakers urged the city to explore compact technology or utilize existing industrial properties like Rockwood.
Westboro Parkway Public Works Facility Utility Costs
The council debated a half-million-dollar budget item for the newly acquired public works facility after discovering substantial ongoing utility expenses.
Automated License Plate Readers (Flock Cameras) and Privacy Concerns
Numerous residents came forward during public comment to demand that the city cancel its contract for Flock safety cameras, arguing the automated license plate readers violate constitutional Fourth Amendment rights and expose the city to major lawsuits.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Site Selection Committee
The committee narrowed roughly twenty candidate sites down to a short list for Lebanon's new wastewater treatment plant, with Site 13 (Hartmann Drive/Rockwood) scoring far above everything else. The City wants willing sellers only — no eminent domain — so the Mayor will now ask owners if they'd sell before the final ranking.
Airport events, alcohol restrictions, and STOL competition logistics
The airport logged its busiest month ever — 5,806 operations — and the STOL competition is coming up with practice Friday and the main event Saturday, including military flyovers and vendors. Parking, traffic control, and pedestrian safety plans are being finalized.
Election
Lebanon's upcoming City Council race just got more interesting with Shawn Hicks jumping into the mix. Voters will now have an extra choice on their ballot to help shape the city's future direction.
The Woodall by Broadstone Multifamily Development
The commission debated open space calculations for a 320-unit apartment complex on Woodall Road. Developers agreed to fix a minor quarter-acre open space shortage, leading to conditional approval.
Prowell Lake Road Office Hybrid SP and Road Improvements
A small office hybrid development on Prowell Lake Road won approval after the developer agreed to widen Prowell Lake Road to two 11-foot lanes to handle traffic impacts.
Cainsville Road Commercial Rezoning and Annexation Policy
Summit Development is proposing a 311-home single-family residential community across 246 acres on Maple Hill Road and Carver Lane. While local builders and realtors argue the project fulfills a desperate need for locally-built homes and keeps tradespeople employed, area residents and county officials heavily protested due to inadequate infrastructure, narrow roads, and severe traffic safety risks.
Garage Department Vehicle Trade-in Policy
Council members questioned the fiscal sense of trading in a two-year-old car for a newer model, prompting a promise to update city vehicle take-home and trade-in policies.
Downtown Parking Lot Acquisition
The council considered purchasing a downtown parking lot on West Main Street for $275,000, drawing questions from council members regarding planning and cost.
West Main Street Commercial Rezoning
A developer received a positive recommendation to rezone 4.01 acres on West Main Street for commercial mixed-use and self-storage, adding roadway safety improvements and landscape buffers.
Stormwater and Flooding Concerns at Kia of Lebanon
Nearby homeowners raised concerns about historic flooding and drainage issues near the proposed Kia dealership site on South Hartman Drive, though staff clarified that specific engineering and flood mitigation reviews occur after preliminary site plan approval.
College Street Addiction Treatment Center Rezoning
Council members inquired about the recent establishment of a methadone/suboxone clinic in the center of town. Planning staff determined the facility falls under secure and personal group care land use categories, requiring rezoning and Board of Zoning Appeals approval.
Runway paving project moved to spring
Tenants are happy the runway paving project got pushed from the earlier timeframe to spring, avoiding disruption during busier months.
Noncompliant tenant lease enforcement
Two tenants are in breach of their leases. Dan Liles is working to certify his experimental aircraft and may get a chance to plead his case before the Airport Commission; Sean Stroud hasn't responded at all and could face lease termination.
Airfield safety concern on partial parallel taxiway
A resident raised a safety concern about four aircraft using an area south of the tunnel that isn't a designated runway. The airport plans signage and already has a taxiway design on the books to fix the area eventually.
Airfield mowing complaints and facility maintenance
Neighbors north of the airfield complained about tall grass, though the City mows four days a week and says the grass isn't out of compliance. New windsocks are in, the rotating beacon needs a photocell, and an HVAC issue is being logged.
Hartman Drive Overlay Design Review Committee Appointments
Discussions over Moores Landing highlighted tensions between longstanding commercial property rights and the city's pedestrian-oriented walkable urban goals within the South Hartmann Overlay.
Tree Planting Initiative
Lebanon just rolled out a free tree giveaway called 'Root for Lebanon' so you can spruce up your yard on the city's dime. If you live in town, you can apply online to snag a tree and help make the neighborhood greener.
RFPF hangar project review delays
A developer building a $2.5–3 million hangar for four jets says city plan reviews take up to 60 days per cycle for mostly minor comments, threatening his year-end completion. He's asking for a single point of contact.
M54 Runway 4-22 safety area and shortening
State safety rules force the grass runway to shrink from 1,801 to 1,477 feet, and the FAA case needed to publish the change seems to have disappeared from the FAA website. Engineers think it was lost in TDOT's reorganization and are hunting for it.
Del Webb aircraft noise concerns
A Del Webb resident says he can't hear his patio TV over aircraft, especially Cessna 172s. Resident Gary Soloway urged the commission to proactively build a noise abatement program before more complaints arrive.
Runway 1/19 rehab and Smyrna closure overlap
The main runway rehab slipped to spring 2027, and the airport wants paving done before Smyrna's June 2027 runway work — otherwise two major Middle Tennessee airports would be partly closed at once. Striping may be deferred 30 days to reopen faster.
Row E hangar lease rate increase
Rent on the new Row E hangars goes to $535 a month — less than the state's suggested $567 but still an increase. Tenant Gary Soloway publicly objected that 9% isn't justified by comparable airports; the commission will revisit rates when the one-year leases expire.
Unleaded aviation fuel transition
100LL leaded fuel is phased out by the end of 2030. The airport has no funding to recertify for unleaded fuel yet, but federal mandates would unlock grant money.
Neighborhood Drainage and Flooding on Blair Mountain Drive
A resident reported ongoing property flooding and undersized culverts exacerbated by upstream excavation and development.
Residential Fencing Standards and Vinyl Fence Ban
The city moved to update zoning rules to permit high-quality white, tan, and clay vinyl or PVC fences in residential areas. This helps homeowners comply with HOA requirements without needing costly Board of Zoning Appeals variances.
Economic Development
Bridgetown Natural Foods is dropping $24.1 million to expand its Lebanon facility, adding over 200 new jobs. It's a major boost for local employment and keeps our economy growing.
Driveway Expansion Administrative Review
The commission advanced a code change to let older homes apply administratively for wider driveways, which should reduce court cases and help families dealing with parking or disability access needs.
Meadowside Residential Development Site Plan Revision
A site plan revision for a 458-unit residential development on Tuckers Gap Road was approved despite concerns from residents about density, appearance near the interstate gateway, and tree coverage.
Data Center Zoning Regulations
New minimum standards are being established for data centers and computer processing services to properly regulate them in industrial districts.
Economic Development and Parks
Lebanon just leveled up its retail and hangout game with the grand openings of a brand new Sam's Club and the Downtown Square Park. These spots mean better local shopping and a fresh place to chill right in the heart of the city.
Runway strengthening project
The runway strengthening project is grant-funded with a preconstruction meeting set for August 3 and asphalt work planned for November 2026. R3 Aviation is holding off on buying aircraft until the closure details are clear.
City Attorney Suspension
Lebanon’s city attorney, Andy Wright, is suspended for four weeks through July 31. That pulls the city’s top legal adviser out of City Hall during a busy summer stretch, so expect slower legal answers or temporary coverage on city business.
Municipal Budget and Expenditure Oversight
Residents and council members criticized city leadership over recent high-cost office renovations and questioned financial transparency and stewardship of taxpayer funds.
Proposed Termination of Wilson County Expo Center Funding
Council members introduced an ordinance to stop the city's annual $100,000 donation to the Expo Center, sparking debate over taxpayer savings versus intergovernmental goodwill.
Row E hangar lease rates
The commission put off voting on Row E hangar lease rates and one-year renewals because too few members were present to take the vote. T-hangar tenants will have to wait for the next meeting.