Metro Council chambers, Aug. 5, 2025
The Metro Council is moving forward with an ordinance to increase regulations for beer and cigarette markets across Nashville.
The ordinance passed on its second reading Tuesday night and follows Metro legislation passed earlier this year to add vape shops within the definition of beer and cigarette markets. The proposal requires a quarter-mile limit between the markets and prohibits them from operating within 100 feet of playgrounds, parks, day cares and religious institutions. It also instills regulations for signage and lighting around the perimeters of doors and windows.
“Taken together, these standards strike a balance,” said Councilmember Emily Benedict, who sponsored the bill along with Councilmember Brenda Gadd. “It allows the businesses to operate, but it also improves the look of, especially, our corridors.”
Councilmember Jacob Kupin, who represents much of downtown, stated his plans for an amendment to the bill to reduce the quarter-mile limit to 500 feet for the downtown core. A final reading for the ordinance will be voted on at the council’s Sept. 16 meeting.
Another ordinance that would create limits for beer and cigarette markets through the creation of a commercial compatibility overlay district was deferred until the next meeting.
Councilmember Emily Benedict, Aug. 5, 2025
Tuesday night’s meeting also included the appointment of At-Large Councilmember Delishia Porterfield to the one-year term of president pro tempore, meaning she will preside over the council in the absence of the vice mayor.
The new chair of the Planning and Zoning Committee is Councilmember Rollin Horton, who narrowly beat Councilmember John Rutherford in a 20-19 vote for the role. Horton has stated his hopes to address housing issues in Nashville through the position, which comes after the passage of his highly debated rezoning plan for The Nations.
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Among other appointments were Councilmember Sean Parker as chair of the Traffic and Parking Commission and the selection of Porterfield and Councilmember Jason Spain to serve on the Metro Audit Committee.
In other business, the council approved a resolution requesting that Mayor Freddie O’Connell create an advisory group to examine youth policy. A proposal from Kupin to regulate seated sightseeing vehicles and amend the definition of entertainment transportation vehicles, which would affect party buses and trolley tours popular downtown, was deferred until the next council meeting.
