The Maury County Commission appointed Robert Caldiraro to the Regional Planning Commission on Monday, Sept. 21, over objections from residents who questioned his handling of a rural subdivision near Spring Hill.

The 16-6 vote, first reported by Main Street Maury, came after public commenters criticized Caldiraro's record as director of Maury County Building & Zoning. He resigned from that post earlier in September to take a job at General Motors.

The sharpest criticism centered on Ridgeline Reserve, a subdivision on East Sheepneck Road developed by Cedar Grove Partners. Residents asked the county in fall 2025 to review the project, but Caldiraro's department declined. The department said subdivisions dividing land into lots of five acres or more do not require planning commission review.

Residents' attorney Dustin Kittle later submitted a legal opinion arguing that a state subdivision law (Tennessee Code Annotated § 13-3-401) requires subdivisions with infrastructure improvements to go before the planning commission. Building & Zoning attorney Kristi Ransom concurred, and the department ordered the developer to appear before the commission.

At the Sept. 21 meeting, Kittle told commissioners he is driving around the county documenting other subdivisions he believes bypassed proper review under Caldiraro's tenure.

"A lot of these subdivisions have been built without going through the proper process," Kittle told commissioners, according to Main Street Maury. "There are subdivisions that did not go before the planning commission that should have."

East Sheepneck Road resident Chris Gramling also spoke, saying the pattern had repeated across multiple developments and that the public deserved an explanation. Commenters also faulted Caldiraro for leaving before the county finalizes its new comprehensive land-use plan.

Caldiraro defended his record at the meeting. He said he had no evidence to act on regarding Ridgeline Reserve until Columbia Power & Water Systems confirmed a water line was in planning for the site. In a Sept. 30 statement to Main Street Maury, Caldiraro said he would not have handled the situation differently.

County Mayor Sheila Butt, who nominated Caldiraro, stood behind the appointment. She said Caldiraro knows the zoning ordinance well and could recuse himself from cases involving his past decisions. Commissioner Gary Stovall also spoke in favor, noting Caldiraro would hold only one of nine votes on the planning commission.

Commissioner Kenny Morrow said Caldiraro's zoning knowledge is rare on the commission. Commissioner Missy Phillips, identified by Main Street Maury as Caldiraro's sister-in-law, said he had long sought the General Motors position and did not simply quit mid-project.

Public commenter Katie Martin criticized the move, comparing it to rehiring an employee who walked away from a major project.

The commission also appointed Chris Wilson and reappointed Quinton Jones to the planning commission at the same meeting. Senior engineer Mathew Piofer was named interim Building & Zoning director. As of Sept. 30, the county was still accepting applications for a permanent replacement.

The Maury County Regional Planning Commission met Sept. 28 at the Tom Primm County Commission Room in Columbia. The next regular meeting date had not been confirmed as of Sept. 30.