Dickson County Growth Plan Update Moves Forward After Rare Multi-Mayor Meeting

Charlotte, TN — After more than two decades without a full revision, Dickson County is officially moving forward with an update to its Growth Plan, following what county leaders described as a rare and significant meeting involving the county mayor and multiple municipal mayors.

During the January 5th, 2026 County Commission work session, county officials confirmed that Dickson County and four municipalities—Dickson, Burns, White Bluff, and Charlotte—have agreed to participate in updating the Growth Plan, a document that governs how and where future development can occur.

Two municipalities—Slayden and Vanleer—chose not to participate, meaning their existing growth boundaries will remain unchanged.

The Growth Plan is a state-mandated planning document originally adopted in 2000 and revisited in 2006, making the current version nearly 20 years old.

The Growth Plan outlines:

• where cities are allowed to annex property

• which areas are intended for municipal growth

• which areas remain under county control

• how cities and the county coordinate long-term development

County officials acknowledged during the meeting that the existing plan no longer reflects current realities.

In blunt terms, leaders said the original map often “circled everything,” creating the appearance that the county was blocking city growth—while at the same time reserving land the county itself would never develop.

County leadership emphasized that simply getting all seven mayors—six municipal mayors plus the county mayor—in the same room was unusual.

The meeting resulted in broad agreement among participating cities, particularly among Dickson, Burns, and White Bluff, whose boundaries and future growth areas often intersect. Officials said those cities worked through their shared borders collaboratively, reducing the likelihood of future annexation disputes.

“The county gave up a lot of land,” one official explained, noting that many areas previously reserved for county control are now better suited for municipal development.

The rationale: cities are better equipped to manage infrastructure, zoning, and services in those areas.

Slayden and Vanleer elected not to take part in the update. Under state law, that decision means:

• their existing growth boundaries remain in place

• they are not affected by the revised plan

• no new annexation areas are created for them

County officials noted this is an allowed option under the law and does not halt the broader countywide update.

The Growth Plan update has long-term implications, even if residents don’t see immediate changes.

Among the most significant impacts:

• Annexation boundaries become clearer, reducing uncertainty for landowners

• Cities gain defined areas for future expansion, improving infrastructure planning

• The county narrows its development focus, rather than spreading authority thin

• Planning and zoning decisions become more predictable

Officials stressed that the revised plan is intended to be more practical and less political than the version adopted decades ago.

The next step is public input.

The plan must go through:

• formal public notice

• review by the Planning Commission

• public hearings, expected to begin in February

The City of Dickson is expected to hold hearings in February or March, with Burns and other municipalities on similar timelines.

County leaders said commissioners will be provided with GIS maps showing the proposed growth boundaries ahead of upcoming meetings, allowing both officials and the public to see exactly what areas are affected.

Growth plans don’t usually generate headlines—but they quietly shape decades of development.

Where roads are widened, where utilities extend, where neighborhoods grow, and which government has authority over land use decisions all trace back to this document.

As Dickson County continues to grow, officials say the goal this time is clarity, cooperation, and realism—so that cities can grow where it makes sense, the county isn’t holding land it won’t develop, and future disputes are minimized.

Public hearings will determine how much residents agree.