PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
3 FEBRUARY 2026
Chair Andy Edwards opened the meeting asking Tommy Price to offer a prayer and lead the pledge. The Chair then asked for a motion on the 6 January 2026 minutes and Commissioner Terry Jones moved the minutes be approved, and with John Haislip offering a second, the minutes were approved unanimously. The Chair Report then included the approval of the Ridgeview plat and no further unfinished business to be discussed. The County Executive (CE) Graham Stowe had no comments at this time. The Chair then asked for any public comments.
Commissioner David Adams asked if there was any news on the proposed XRio Development with the Chair saying no news. The CE noted that information on land closures is not provided to this committee. Mr. Andres Rodriquez asked if this commission would consider including on their agendas a rolling agenda item addressing impending sites for subdivisions (re XRio), with the Chair saying yes, that he understood his point. But repeating a comment from Sheriff Purvis, this commission can’t do if nothing has happened yet. He said he would take the recommendation for consideration on how to move forward. Mr. Dustin Kittle, a lawyer from Maury County, with environmental experience and representing several Giles County residents, spoke to the XRio concerns. He discussed XRio continuing to market the development as going forward and suggested this could be a liability for Giles County. He mentioned XRio is taking deposits and may have 100 people making those deposits. In addition, he addressed some of the concerns such as many proposed wells affecting the water aquafer. He suggested the commission provide XRio with X number of days to present their plans to the commission and without doing so saying the development cannot go forward. He mentioned the 8 months discussing this situation and to prevent county liability it is time to close the book. Kristen Pfeiffer asked if there any statutes that allows the commission to request plats be produced or stop advertising. Mr. Kittle said in his opinion yes with the CE saying others also have their opinion. Mr. Kittle said they are clearly marketing this property showing images of the land. The Chair said we too have concerns but we are not a business watch dog, and some of the issues such as water is state regulated noting the question of subdivision identification addresses internal public roads vs private roads. The CE asked if a letter from Mr. Kittle laying out his approach is forthcoming with him answering yes, and with the CE saying we need to have you and the county’s attorney in the same room. Mr. Tom Van Der Bill said they are marketing the plots as sold/reserved and they are not approved by the county. The Chair said the Commission had offered to have a working meeting with XRio before Christmas, and that he could reach out again to their lawyer. Commissioner Terry Jones said he thought the contract had language that deposits are nonrefundable with Mr. Shane Waugh saying they are taking the funds, but they say can be used in other states if not used in Giles County.
New Business – The Chair said the next meeting would be 3 March 20266, and he would be working with the CE and the county lawyer to schedule a meeting with Mr. Kittle. For other new business the CE mentioned the update to the county’s planning policy with a discussion about Rutherford County doing an impact fee which is directly related to increased demand created by development of single homes. The CE noted that the use of impact fees can be used by the city but the county cannot without funding a population study which would have to show a measurable burden on public services. The Chair asked for clarification of an impact fee vs a fee schedule with the CE saying the impact fee is related to increased population demands where a fee schedule is as required for specific effort such as legal services. The Chair said he would put the fee schedule on the agenda for the next time, with the CE saying he would resend the proposed changes. He asked if the members would let either he or the Chair know what they thought about the changes. Commissioner Terry Jones noted there are some things we can’t change, with the CE noting all would still have to go to the full legislative body.
Motion to adjourn by Tommy Pope, seconded by Tommy Price, and was approved unanimously.
ATTENDEES: Members of the Committee Chair Andy Edwards, other Committee members – Tommy Price, Kristen Pfeiffer, Malcolm Moore, Brian Marks, John Haislip, Tommy Pope Commissioners Terry Jones, Annelle Guthrie, Absent – Caleb Savage Other Commissioners in attendance Gayle Jones, David Adams Other County Executive Graham Stowe, and Members of the public