Envision Franklin

Appendix | ENVISION FRANKLIN 137 APPENDIX B nection. This existing two-lane roadway provides the primary transportation route for numerous residential subdivisions, with many having individual access points along the street. Many of these access points are not controlled and allow for both right and left turn lanes. Downs Boulevard, Boyd Mill Avenue, and Del Rio Pike, all two-lane connectors, provide secondary routes through the area, but they do not extend throughout the entire character area. Carlisle Lane/ Del Rio Pike, a two-lane rural corridor, is the only roadway that extends north from New Highway 96 West. There are some smaller roadways in the vacant area north of Highway 96, but the roadways are used for access to local farmsteads and do not provide continuous access through the area. Due to the limited number of roadways in this area, future development and rising densities are a concern. Current residents, employees, and visitors have limited transportation routes, which causes congestion and inefficiencies. Future transportation projects are necessary for the area. The primary recommended project is the completion of the Mack Hatcher Parkway with the construction of both the northwest and southwest segments. With the completion of the Mack Hatcher Parkway corridor, the West Harpeth Character Area will have additional vehicular access, which will reduce the vehicular counts on surrounding roadways. In addition, new and enhanced roadways will also be necessary to promote and support growth in the vacant area to the north of Highway 96. LAND USE AND GROWTH Nearly one-half of the West Harpeth area is vacant or agricultural. This area, located between Highway 96 and the Harpeth River corridor, is divided between four to five owners and includes five historic properties/ farmsteads. The surrounding area is primarily residential, although some nonresidential uses are located in Westhaven. Westhaven is the largest residential subdivision in the area and was designed using traditional neighborhood development (TND) principles. When complete, the community will include nearly 3,000 residential units, in addition to some local commercial and office uses. In addition to Westhaven, the area is also seeing development interest in multiple, small residential developments throughout the area. At the intersection of Highway 96 and Downs Boulevard, there are some neighborhood commercial uses, including a pharmacy, gas station, and office spaces. Additional commercial uses are found in the Westhaven community and include WEST HARPETH DEMOGRAPHICS/ GENERAL INFORMATION The West Harpeth Character Area contains 6,120 acres located on the northwestern edge of the UGB. The area is bound to the northeast by the Harpeth River and to the west and northwest by the West Harpeth River. The Central Franklin Character Area is located to the east, and the Southall Character Area bounds the area to the south. The West Harpeth Character Area is one of the primary focus areas for new residential development in the City and is undergoing rapid change. ENVIRONMENTAL/ GEOLOGY/TOPOGRAPHY The West Harpeth Character Area is constrained to the north, west, and south by environmental features. The Harpeth River, which wraps the west and north sides of the character area, creates a valuable, vegetated corridor through the area. This riparian corridor, the associated 100- and 500-year floodplains, and the adjacent vegetation impact the development potential of the surrounding vacant land. Significant hills are located along the western boundary of the area and have been preserved as part of approved development plans. TRANSPORTATION/ACCESS New Highway 96 West transverses the area and provides the area’s only primary west-east con-

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