CHAPEL HILL -- Planning commissioners here are recommending that annexation of 54 acres be approved next Monday by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

Voting Monday this week, the commissioners endorsed a request from developer Ron Lampley who wants to build two subdivisions on State Route 99 (Eagleville Highway.)

The proposed subdivisions, Stammer Farms and Stammer Glenn, would be located on the south side of Eagleville Pike east of Stevens Road and west of Eagleville Pike.

Two other planning commission decisions this week affect Lampley's plan:

* Approval of a plan of service for the 54 acres where utilities, police, fire and other services will be provided, and;

* Recommendation of zero lot line home zoning, a new kind of home construction layout.

Zero lot line homes in Chapel Hill would be permitted with one wall of a home on one side yard lot line, according to the proposed amendment to the town's zoning ordinance. Elsewhere, zero lot line homes allow lot lines to go through a building to divide two or more homes. Planning commissioners rejected such an application of development concepts that are sometimes seen as sanctioning duplexes.

The ordinances for annexation, zoning Lampley's land for residential purposes, and changes to the town's zoning law are to be considered by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen when that panel convenes at 5 p.m. Monday in the town fire hall and police headquarters.

Lampley plans to develop zero lot line homes on 15,000-square-foot lots, he said during the planning commission meeting. He's considered other development concepts, he said, mentioning condominiums and apartments.

The Marshall County developer had considered proceeding with his plans without city sewer, but he's apparently decided against that option.

"I had this approved for STEP drip," he said, referring to Septic Tank Effluent Pump sewage disposal systems that utilize a system of field lines fed by sewers from homes, instead of field lines for each home.

Such sewage disposal systems are being used more frequently in Middle Tennessee. There's one serving the Villas on Horton Highway north of Chapel Hill.

The zoning ordinance amendment to permit zero lot line homes would allow them in only two of several residential land use classifications, according to the town's state planning advisor, Lisa Keylon. She described the zero lot line home classification as an overlay, meaning it's an additional set of land use regulations laid over the underlying regulations for residential zones.

"This is a starting point," Town Administrator Mike Hatten said of the new zoning code.

Planning Commissioner Earl Harris seconded Mayor Carl Cooper's motion to have the planning commission recommend the change to the zoning code. The vote was unanimous, as were the votes for annexation of Lampley's land.