Metro Council Approves Rezoning for The Nations at Heated Meeting

The Metro Council approved a comprehensive rezoning plan for The Nations on Tuesday night during a meeting marked by outbursts and tension among members of the body and citizens in the gallery. 

The council passed the Nations Neighborhood Plan, which includes an urban design overlay (UDO) and rezoning ordinances to allow for increased housing density. The local policy is set to impact more than 300 acres of the West Nashville neighborhood, which offers residential, commercial and industrial areas. 

Key components of the plan include the regulation of most residential buildings to two stories, improved stormwater drainage and increased tree density requirements. Accessory dwelling units and detached accessory dwelling units — typically seen as garage apartments or carriage houses — are also allowed under the new plan. 

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Metro Council Advances Rezoning Plan for The Nations

Debate arises over proposal that would create an urban design overlay to allow for accessory dwellings, require tree density

The council’s approval came with an amendment to allow current short-term rentals (STR) in The Nations to continue operations, but prohibit the creation of new STR properties in the neighborhood's residential areas.

Another amendment was passed to ensure the Nashville Department of Transportation includes the zoning changes in its Multimodal Mobility Master Plan project. An additional change to the original bill removed a 15-foot height bonus originally intended as an incentive for developers to build family-size apartments. 

The plan has been in the works for nearly two years. Its sponsor, Councilmember Rollin Horton, says the aim is to expand walkability, provide an array of housing options, support local businesses, replenish the tree canopy and combat flooding issues. Supporters of the plan include many urbanists across Nashville who believe it will act as an example of controlled growth and development that could benefit future zoning reform across Davidson County. 

“It provides measured and reasonable growth,” said Councilmember Jacob Kupin in support. “It does not mean bulldozers come tomorrow; it allows for growth over time to happen.”

A large point of contention among the plan’s critics has been what they say was a lack of notice, despite Horton hosting more than 20 community meetings on the matter in the past few years. Councilmember Courtney Johnston acknowledged these concerns, suggesting that the council could do a better job of notifying constituents of issues in the future. 

“If a tree falls in the forest and there’s nobody around to hear it, does it make a sound?” Johnston asked. “That is irrelevant. What’s relevant is that nobody’s there to hear it. So the meetings, the 18 months or two years of work, the 30-something meetings, it’s irrelevant if nobody was there, or a large portion of people were not there.” 

Tension arose during the latter half of the debate when Councilmember Ginny Welsch claimed one of the opponents who spoke during public comment, Lauren Magli, did not live in The Nations. Magli then rose from her seat in the gallery and began to yell that she did in fact live in the neighborhood. Horton later confirmed that Magli lives in The Nations. 

Moments later, another outburst occurred when Councilmember Tasha Ellis rose for a point of order while Councilmember Sean Parker spoke in favor of the rezoning. Ellis began asking special counsel questions about open records requests and sunshine laws when Henderson told her this was not relevant to the current discussion. 

As other councilmembers continued the debate, Parker approached Ellis where she sat at her desk and used profanity. Ellis then began yelling, saying that Parker threatened her. She continued to yell as Vice Mayor Angie Henderson repeatedly asked her to be quiet and attempted to quell the disordered council chamber. 

“I’m tired of you sitting up there using your white privilege,” Ellis said to Henderson, who leads the council as president. 

The council then broke for recess. As Ellis began to exit the room, she addressed Parker with profanity, to which Henderson said sternly, “Stop speaking to your colleague that way.” 

“You’re not my mama,” Ellis replied. 

“I’m your president,” Henderson countered. 

When recess concluded, the council’s minority caucus gathered and chair Kyonzté Toombs stated, “We have to remind our body that the optics of a white male colleague approaching a Black female who is seated and using profanity towards her is an act of intimidation and it can’t be tolerated in this body.” 

Upon the caucus’s request, Parker apologized to Ellis for his choice of words. 

The council proceeded to vote on The Nations rezoning and UDO, passing the rezoning portion 25-9 with one abstention. The UDO passed 27-6. Two abstained.