UGB Frequently asked Questions

The Town of Nolensville, along with Williamson County, Brentwood, Fairview, Franklin, Spring Hill, and Thompson’s Station are all working to update the Williamson County Growth Plan. Nolensville evaluated its proposed Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) expansion options in a June 2022 report by STV.  The Nolensville UGB is defined area beyond the city limits in which the Town of Nolensville could grow into over time.  A link to the proposed UGB expansion area is provided here: Draft UGB Expansion Map. 

Williamson County’s existing Growth Plan, which was developed pursuant to the requirements of Public Chapter 1101, was adopted in April of 2001. The Growth Plan established UGBs around each of the six municipalities, as well as four Planned Growth Areas within the County. These growth boundaries have not been altered since their adoption in 2001. Each municipality is evaluating their own respective UGBs, and all proposed changes will be consolidated and considered for approval through a prescribed ratification process at the County. 

UGB Expansion- Frequently Asked Questions

Why is it important?

The state legislature required all counties in Tennessee not part of a consolidated metropolitan government to complete a growth plan. In addition to the state law requirement, the UGB sets the limits for land use, transportation, and sewer basin planning efforts.  Nolensville established its proposed UGB expansion area in late 2021.

Why is the Town updating the UGB?
The UGB should be reevaluated at least every 20 years to account for infrastructure improvements, market trends, growth patterns, and other changes that have occurred. Williamson County adopted the Town’s current UGB in 2001. The Town’s Urban Growth Boundary update and revision will determine where the Town will grow through the year 2040.  This is an opportunity for community members to help shape the future of the Town by providing ideas, concerns, and priorities that will guide the recommendations for the Growth Plan Update. 
What are the required steps?

The Tennessee Code Annotated (TCA) Section 6-58-106 prescribes the procedures that must be followed when amending the Growth Plan. It involves an almost identical process as the original adoption process.

Prior to officially proposing the amendments to Urban Growth Boundary lines to the Coordinating Committee, the municipalities must have performed the following:

  1. Conduct at least two (2) public hearings. Notice of the time, place and purpose of the public hearing shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the municipality not less than fifteen (15) days before each hearing;
  2. Develop and report population growth projections;
  3. Determine and report the current costs and the projected costs of core infrastructure, urban services, public facilities necessary to facilitate full development of resources within the current boundaries of the municipality and to expand such infrastructure, services, and facilities throughout the territory under consideration for inclusion within the urban growth boundaries;
  4. Determine and report on the need for additional land suitable for high density, industrial, commercial and residential development, after taking into account all areas within the municipality's current boundaries that can be used, reused or redeveloped to meet such needs;
  5. Examine and report on agricultural lands, forests, recreational areas and wildlife management areas within the territory under consideration for inclusion within the urban growth boundaries; and
  6. Examine and report on the likely long-term effect of urban expansion on such agricultural lands, forests, recreational areas and wildlife management areas.

 The state law also says that municipal urban growth boundaries shall: 

  1. Identify territory that is reasonably compact yet sufficiently large to accommodate residential and nonresidential growth projected for the next twenty (20) years;
  2. Identify territory that is contiguous to the existing boundaries of the municipality;
  3. Identify territory that a reasonable and prudent person would project as the likely site of high density commercial, industrial and/or residential growth over the next twenty (20) years based on historical experience, economic trends, population growth patterns, and topographical characteristics (professional planning, engineering, and/or economic studies may also be considered);
  4. Identify territory in which the municipality is better able and prepared than other municipalities to efficiently and effectively provide urban services;
  5. Reflect the municipality's duty to facilitate full development of resources within the current boundaries of the municipality and to manage and control urban expansion outside of such current boundaries, taking into account the impact to agricultural lands, forests, recreational areas and wildlife management areas.



How does annexation into the Town occur?
The UGB update is different from annexation.  Annexation refers to the addition of properties into the corporate Town limits. Annexation can only occur when a property owner willingly requests to be annexed into the Town or by referendum. Property owners within the UGB are eligible to request annexation which is ultimately voted on by the Board of Commissioners with a recommendation from the Planning Commission. There is also a process to annex by referendum, barring that the territory is not within another jurisdiction’s UGB.
What the adoption of the Nolensville Urban Growth Boundary Expansion Area will not do
  • This is not an annexation plan. Annexation, under Tennessee state law, only occurs at the request of the property owner. This Growth Plan will not annex your property within the Town of Nolensville.

  • This will not impact or change your property tax. Unless you request annexation into the Town of Nolensville, your property tax will not be changed at all.

  • This will not change your address. Addressing is handled by the Post Office and would not be impacted by the Growth Plan Update at all.

  • Growth Plan Update is a county-wide effort. Each municipality in the County is participating in planning for growth over the next 20 years. This is the first update to the Growth Plan since 2001.
How can I get involved?

The Town will hold three meetings in June, July and August 2023 that you can attend, learn about the UGB expansion area and give your comments.  The following is a list of the upcoming meetings:

  • Community Workshop – Thursday, June 29, 2023 @6:30pm in Townhall Chambers, 7218 Nolensville Road, Nolensville, TN 37135

  • Planning Commission Public Hearing – Tuesday, July 11, 2023 at 6:30pm in the Townhall Chambers, 7218 Nolensville Road, Nolensville, TN 37135

  • Board of Commissioners Public Hearing – Thursday, August 3, 2023 at 6:30pm in the Townhall Chambers, 7218 Nolensville Road, Nolensville, TN 37135

The Coordinating Committee will also hold two public hearings before voting on the County Growth Plan and sending it back to the jurisdictions for ratification. Those dates have not been established yet but are estimated to occur sometime in late 2023.