09/03/2025
Here is the press release about the proposed racetrack a developer wants to build next to Whippoorwill. Please read and share!
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Fernvale Residents Push Back on Illegal Racetrack Resort Proposal Ahead of Sept. 4 Zoning Hearing
Fairview, TN — Residents of Fernvale—a quiet, agricultural community rooted in family farms, rolling pastures, and Tennessee’s rural heritage—are mounting strong opposition to a controversial proposal that would bring a racetrack-style resort to the unincorporated area of Williamson County. The plan—disguised as a “non-profit club”—goes before the Fairview Board of Zoning Appeals on Thursday, September 4, but locals say the project is clearly illegal under existing zoning laws and wholly out of place in this historic rural valley.
Developer Walker Thomas Lunn is seeking conditional use approval for a sprawling facility including 50 short-term rental cottages, a three-mile road racing course, multiple gun ranges, an amphitheater, and more. The Greene Springs property is currently zoned Rural Estate, which allows only low-density residential and agricultural uses—not resort-scale commercial activity.
“Fernvale looks out for our neighbors and our environment - it's not a rich person's private playground." said Gill Murrey, a multigenerational landowner and former owner of the beloved Whipporwill Farm Day Camp. "For 50 fun-filled summers, we shared those values with Middle Tennessee families as Whippoorwill Farm Day Camp. We want to keep sharing those values, but this proposed racetrack would destroy our hopes to preserve the Fernvale that we, and families across Tennessee, love.”
Key Concerns Raised by Residents:
Flatly illegal under existing zoning: The proposed use is not permitted under the Rural Estate designation in the Fairview 2040 Comprehensive Plan. Racetracks, hotels, and gun ranges are not conditional or accessory uses.
No Traffic Impact Study: As a winding rural connector, Old Harding Road was not built for commercial traffic, and there has been no formal traffic study conducted or released.
Environmental risks to the Harpeth River: The site drains into the impaired Harpeth River, with increased runoff from pavement, oil, and lead ammunition posing serious water quality risks. The property lacks sewer infrastructure and appropriate perk sites.
Conflict of interest in planning process: The developer is represented by The Urban Planning and Design Collaborative (TUPDC) the same firm hired by the City of Fairview to rewrite its zoning code—an arrangement residents call an undeniable conflict of interest that undermines public trust.
Developer’s credibility in question: Lunn has a documented pattern of tax liens, civil judgments, foreclosures, and failed business ventures, including an abandoned gun range project in Washington, D.C. He has never completed a project of this scale.
Minimal notice and poor public engagement: The community received only 12 days’ notice of the zoning hearing. The developer’s sole public meeting was held 30 minutes outside the area and began late, with few details shared.
What Residents Are Demanding
1. Denial of the zoning appeal in accordance with Fairview’s code and comprehensive plan.
2. Immediate recusal of TUPDC from any official role during review of this proposal and a conflict-free, independent planning review.
3. Full disclosure of all financial ties between the City of Fairview, the developer, and TUPDC.
Zoning Hearing Details:
What: Fairview Board of Zoning Appeals meeting
When: Thursday, September 4, 2025 - 6:00 PM CT
Where: Fairview City Hall – 7100 City Center Way, Fairview, TN
About Save Fernvale
Save Fernvale is a community-led campaign to protect the rural integrity, environmental health, and public safety of the Fernvale area. Formed in response to the Greene Springs racetrack resort proposal, the campaign advocates for transparent governance, proper land use enforcement, and responsible growth that respects the area’s history, farmland, and families. To learn more please visit www.SaveFernvale.org.
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