Request for Consideration Regarding Proposed Property Tax Rate Increase

Dear Mayor O’Connell and Members of the Metro Council,

I am writing on behalf of the West Meade Neighborhood Association, Inc. to respectfully ask that you carefully consider the impact of the proposed property tax rate increase on the residents of West Meade and other established neighborhoods in Nashville. The WMNA is a not-for-profit public benefit corporation whose mission is to promote West Meade and surrounding areas to maintain and improve the area.  We know that many residents, particularly those on fixed incomes, are deeply concerned about the financial burden this increase will impose. For many of us, including a significant portion of older West Meade residents who have called this area home for over 30 years, the rising property taxes present a significant challenge.

However, the issue goes beyond the financial strain. There is a growing sense among long-term residents that the Metro Council and the Mayor’s office are no longer prioritizing the preservation of our communities—the very communities that have contributed to the growth and vibrancy of Nashville over the past several decades. We have been loyal contributors to this city’s development, and we now feel that our voices are being ignored in decisions that directly affect our quality of life.

The West Meade area has been underserved in recent years in ways that are leaving residents feeling marginalized.

1. Loss of High School: West Meade’s high school was relocated to Bellevue, with the consolation that the original school buildings would be repurposed into a community center, park, sports/exercise facility, and even a community storm shelter. West Meade and area neighborhoods, with more than 4000 homes, have no such amenity! Unfortunately, it appears that these plans are not moving forward. The buildings are now being leased to Metro organizations, including MNPD for training purposes, and are not being made available to the community despite the wishes of residents, including H.G. Hill Jr., who donated the land to Nashville with specific instructions as to its retirement.
   
2. Lack of Usable Parks: West Meade has no dedicated park space for community gatheringsor family outings, like Red Caboose Park in Bellevue. The closest park, Brookmeade Park, was once an important asset to the community but was allowed to deteriorate due to an encroaching homeless camp. Thanks to the efforts of local residents – who were maligned and criticized by one Councilperson – and Metro Greenways, the park is now recovered. However, the presence of refuse, such as hypodermic needles in the grass, further deters families with young children from enjoying the park.
   
3. Traffic Safety Concerns: MNPD has been largely unresponsive to speeding concerns in West Meade, leaving residents vulnerable as they walk along streets without sidewalks or bike lanes. The lack of enforcement has led to dangerous conditions, particularly with the presence of late-night racing cars speeding on West Meade’s secondary roads.
   
4. Loss of Tree Canopy: One of our primary concerns is the increasing loss of the abundance of old trees in West Meade. Despite the clear environmental value and natural beauty of our tree canopy, unchecked clear-cutting of large properties (often greater than 1 acre) to make space for large dwellings opens huge gaps in this formerly contiguous canopy. The Metro Council has been unable to pass an ordinance that would restrict developers from clear-cutting. This practice is stripping West Meade of its natural beauty and environmental resources and thus decreases the value of all our properties. 
   
5. Zoning and Development Threats: Some members of the Council are attempting to weaken zoning restrictions, which could lead to the construction of large, multi-unit apartment complexes in areas that are traditionally residential. One Councilmember even dismissed the voices of residents as an obstacle to progress and suggested that they should have no voice in the proposed rezoning. This, like the clear-cutting, would drastically change the character of our neighborhood, reducing it to a concrete jungle, and displacing those who have long called it home.
   
6. Stormwater Concerns:  Due to increased development, there has been a loss of pervious surfaces and vegetation, which has caused residents on hillside lots to be flooded or have much more stormwater than before.  Neighbors are spending substantial sums of money to put in drainage features, crawl space dewatering, and other systems because Metro could not provide any sort of conveyance to get it to the roadside ditches. Unfortunately, with rainstorms increasing in the winter, water flows into the street and freezes, forming a solid sheet of dangerous ice that stays until either it rains or the temperature increases.
   

Many of the long-term residents of West Meade are struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living, on a fixed income, and they feel that the city’s development strategy is pushing them out. These residents helped build Nashville, contributed to its growth, and have paid taxes for decades. Yet, they now face the real prospect of having to leave due to rising costs and a lack of support from the city they helped shape. Nashville’s growth is in a large part because of their participation over the last 20-60 years, and they deserve better.

On behalf of over 4000 Nashville families, The West Meade Neighborhood Association respectfully asks that you consider the contributions these residents have made to this city over the decades and prioritize the efficient use of property tax dollars to address these issues. The citizens of West Meade have been paying taxes for years, yet many of the concerns outlined above remain unaddressed. Before any new financial burden is placed on them through increased taxes, we urge you to ensure that their existing contributions are being fully utilized to address these ongoing issues.

Respectfully,
West Meade Neighborhood Association Board of Directors

Paul Garland, President
Bill Penny, Acting Secretary
Sheryl Garland, Treasurer
Tracy Dunn, Board Member
Ian Harris, Board Member
Hans-Willi Honegger, Board Member
Linda Penny, Board Member
Tina Swanson, Board Member
Mike Walker, Board Member