diff --git a/src/cascadingdev/setup_project.py b/src/cascadingdev/setup_project.py
index 8c2baa8..176f58d 100644
--- a/src/cascadingdev/setup_project.py
+++ b/src/cascadingdev/setup_project.py
@@ -246,13 +246,22 @@ def seed_process_and_rules(target: Path):
         copy_if_missing(t_rules_features, rules_dir / ".ai-rules.yml")
 
 def seed_initial_feature(target: Path, req_fields: dict | None):
+    """
+    Create the initial feature request file.
+
+    This function ONLY creates request.md - the automation system will generate
+    the discussion and summary files when request.md is committed.
+
+    This avoids race conditions where setup tries to create files that the
+    pre-commit hook also wants to generate.
+    """
     today = datetime.date.today().isoformat()
     feature_id = f"FR_{today}_initial-feature-request"
     fr_dir = target / "Docs" / "features" / feature_id
     disc_dir = fr_dir / "discussions"
     disc_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
 
-    # Gather values from Ramble result (if any)
+    # Gather values from the Ramble result (if any)
     fields = (req_fields or {}).get("fields", {}) if req_fields else {}
     # Load FR template + META
     fr_tmpl = INSTALL_ROOT / "assets" / "templates" / "feature_request.md"
@@ -286,69 +295,21 @@ def seed_initial_feature(target: Path, req_fields: dict | None):
 **Meta**: Created: {today}
 """
 
+    # Write ONLY request.md - let automation generate the rest
     (fr_dir / "request.md").write_text(render_placeholders(fr_body, values), encoding="utf-8")
 
-    # --- feature.discussion.md ---
-    disc_tmpl = INSTALL_ROOT / "assets" / "templates" / "feature.discussion.md"
-    d_meta, d_body = load_template_with_meta(disc_tmpl)
-    # Always include the front-matter for rules, then template body (or fallback)
-    fm = f"""---\ntype: discussion\nstage: feature\nstatus: OPEN\nfeature_id: {feature_id}\ncreated: {today}\n---\n"""
-    if not d_body.strip():
-        d_body = (
-            "## Summary\n"
-            f"Initial discussion for {feature_id}. Append your comments below.\n\n"
-            "## Participation\n"
-            "- Maintainer: Kickoff. VOTE: READY\n"
-        )
-    (disc_dir / "feature.discussion.md").write_text(fm + render_placeholders(d_body, values), encoding="utf-8")
-
-    # --- feature.discussion.sum.md ---
-    sum_tmpl = INSTALL_ROOT / "assets" / "templates" / "feature.discussion.sum.md"
-    s_meta, s_body = load_template_with_meta(sum_tmpl)
-    if s_body.strip():
-        # use template
-        (disc_dir / "feature.discussion.sum.md").write_text(render_placeholders(s_body, values), encoding="utf-8")
-    else:
-        # your existing static content
-        (disc_dir / "feature.discussion.sum.md").write_text(
-            """# Summary — Feature
-
-<!-- SUMMARY:DECISIONS START -->
-## Decisions (ADR-style)
-- (none yet)
-<!-- SUMMARY:DECISIONS END -->
-
-<!-- SUMMARY:OPEN_QUESTIONS START -->
-## Open Questions
-- (none yet)
-<!-- SUMMARY:OPEN_QUESTIONS END -->
-
-<!-- SUMMARY:AWAITING START -->
-## Awaiting Replies
-- (none yet)
-<!-- SUMMARY:AWAITING END -->
-
-<!-- SUMMARY:ACTION_ITEMS START -->
-## Action Items
-- (none yet)
-<!-- SUMMARY:ACTION_ITEMS END -->
-
-<!-- SUMMARY:VOTES START -->
-## Votes (latest per participant)
-READY: 1 • CHANGES: 0 • REJECT: 0
-- Maintainer
-<!-- SUMMARY:VOTES END -->
-
-<!-- SUMMARY:TIMELINE START -->
-## Timeline (most recent first)
-- {ts} Maintainer: Kickoff
-<!-- SUMMARY:TIMELINE END -->
-
-<!-- SUMMARY:LINKS START -->
-## Links
-- Design/Plan: ../design/design.md
-<!-- SUMMARY:LINKS END -->
-""".replace("{ts}", today), encoding="utf-8")
+    # NOTE: We do NOT create feature.discussion.md or feature.discussion.sum.md here.
+    # The pre-commit hook automation will generate these files when request.md is committed.
+    #
+    # This approach:
+    #   1. Avoids race conditions (setup vs. hook both creating same files)
+    #   2. Actually exercises the automation system on first commit
+    #   3. Ensures generated files match current automation rules
+    #
+    # The automation flow will be:
+    #   git commit → pre-commit hook → runner.py sees request.md
+    #                                 → generates feature.discussion.md (AI-powered)
+    #                                 → workflow.py generates feature.discussion.sum.md
 
 
 def copy_install_assets_to_target(target: Path):