Planning commission approves Harpeth High CTE building site plan with design conditions

The Kingston Springs Planning Commission approved the site plan for Harpeth High School’s new Career and Technical Education (CTE) construction building during its June 11 meeting, moving the long-awaited project forward while requiring modifications to the building’s exterior design.

Commissioners unanimously approved the proposal after receiving a recommendation from the town’s Design Review Committee that the structure’s 60-foot metal wall be broken up with additional architectural materials to better comply with Kingston Springs’ design standards.

The approval clears another hurdle for the dedicated construction facility, which will support Harpeth High’s growing residential construction pathway. School officials unveiled plans for the building earlier this year after launching the program with more than 40 students enrolled.

Funded in part through the district’s $1 million Innovative Schools Grant, the facility will provide covered workspace and large access doors where students can complete hands-on projects and eventually build items for sale while earning industry credentials and construction experience.

School leaders have said the building fulfills a vision more than a decade in the making and will allow the program to expand as enrollment grows. The residential construction pathway is taught by Pegram Mayor Charles Morehead and is designed to prepare students for careers in the skilled trades while creating a direct pipeline into Tennessee College of Applied Technology programs.

Although the Planning Commission approved the site plan, the project will move forward with the condition that its exterior design incorporates the Design Review Committee’s recommendations to soften the appearance of the proposed metal façade and ensure compliance with the town’s architectural standards.

The CTE building is expected to become a cornerstone of Harpeth High’s career and technical education offerings, joining existing pathways in agriculture, health science, criminal justice and audiovisual production.