There has been a proposed ordinance, BL2024-186, described as:
“An ordinance to amend Title 17 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws, the Zoning Ordinance of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, to add the two-family use as a conditionally permitted use to the RS and RS-A zoning districts and amend the conditions for the two-family use in the AG, AR2A, R, and R-A zoning districts, all of which is more particularly described herein (Proposal No. 2024Z-006TX-001).”
– Proposed Bill BL2024-186
This ordinance, if approved, will basically eliminate RS zoning (single family). Many of our neighborhoods are zoned for single-family residential homes. If this bill passes as written, it means when a single-family home is torn down, at least two houses can be built to replace that one house.
This ordinance would have serious consequences to West Meade and all other neighborhoods in Nashville!
There will be a community meeting at the Green Hills Library on Saturday, March 2, 2024 from 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm to discuss this bill and other bills that will be modifying Title 6 (Licenses and Regulations) – BL2024-185; Title 16 (Codes) – BL2024-181, BL2024-182, BL2024-183; and Title 17 (Zoning) – BL2024-184, BL2024-187, BL2024-188. Please make every effort to attend this meeting. If you cannot make this meeting, there are other meetings scheduled across Nashville:
Donelson Library
Monday, Feb 12 5:30 – 7:00 pm
Smith Springs Community Center
Tuesday, Feb 13 5:30 – 7:00 pm
Madison Library
Wed, March 6 5:30 – 7:00 pm
Edmonson Library
Friday, March 8 2:30 – 4:00 pm
Bordeaux Library
Saturday, March 9
3:00 – 4:30 pm
From the Green Hills Neighborhood Association newsletter:
The goal of this bill, along with other bills introduced and sponsored by freshmen Metro Council members, At Large Segall and District 20 Horton, is to reform parts of Nashville’s zoning code in an effort to slow down rising housing costs. They say an added benefit could be reduced traffic and increased “community.”
The GHNA Board questions the soundness of their goals. Over the years we have watched good-intended bills result in unforeseen negative consequences. However, Board members (we have watched consequences of bills for 20 years) can predict the negative consequences to this bill before it has had its first vote. There are no limits on the size, nor the eventual sale price of the multiple new builds recommended, so how exactly does this bill ensure developers will build moderate size homes for middle-income families at a middle-income price in an effort to slow down rising housing costs — simply put, IT DOESN’T. Under this bill, once a developer owns the property, they are free to build whatever size, style and priced house they desire. Do we trust developers to do the right thing?
In past years many neighborhoods across Nashville worked hard to downzone their neighborhoods to RS (single-family) zoning in order to maintain the character of the neighborhood and prevent over development. Now, using CM Thom Druffel’s words, “The proposed legislation would pull the rug from under us and negatively impact investments — our homes and quality of life.”
The suggestion that this bill could reduce traffic and increase community seems too naïve for even two inexperienced, freshmen Council members. Increased traffic is caused by the influx of people moving to Nashville and the many, many tourists visiting Nashville. As far as increased community, how does increasing density in our residential neighborhoods make us more self-sufficient and remove the necessity to drive for daily needs. Unless their next plan is to build grocery stores, drug stores, post offices and retail stores in the middle of our residential neighborhoods, IT DOESN’T. Most neighborhoods already have a sense of community; our largest investment is made in neighborhoods of our own choosing for character, safety and schools.
We see this one bill benefiting developers – not middle-income families. The bill removes the RS zoning protection in almost every neighborhood in the Urban Services District (all properties in Districts 25 and 34 are in USD).
The Board believes this is a bad bill and will not be good for all residential neighborhoods. We already see push back from several Council members, including District 26 CM Courtney Johnston, who filed an amendment to the bill exempting her District 26. We will be opposing this bill and urge our members to oppose. More information will be coming to you over the next few weeks. Watch for our emails and be sure to attend the March 2 meeting at Green Hills Library, 2:30-4:30 pm.
As always, thank you for your participation in efforts to protect our residential neighborhoods.
The GHNA Board