The Metro Council has moved forward with a proposal to construct a warehouse adjacent to an Antioch quarry, facing opposition by area residents who cited concerns related to road safety and the environment.Â
The rezoning ordinance would allow for a warehouse of up to 220,000 square feet located on 23 acres of land at 3187 Franklin Limestone Road. The wooded property is currently leased by Vulcan Materials, which runs a nearby quarry and asphalt plant. The land also sits adjacent to a waste management facility. The warehouse would be leased to multiple tenants.Â
One East Bank planning decision has shown Metro’s limited tolerance for public participation
Michael Augustine, managing partner for the project’s developer, Distribution Realty Group, spoke at Tuesday night’s Metro Council meeting. Augustine said the property was chosen in part due to the urbanization of Nashville’s industrial areas like the East Bank. He advocated for the development, saying it will generate tax revenue for the city.Â
Augustine said Distribution Realty Group knocked on nearly 400 doors in the neighborhood and made calls to 150 residents to gain input on the development. He said this comes in addition to two community meetings and mailed notices by the ordinance’s sponsor, District 28 Councilmember David Benton.Â
But some residents of Limestone Franklin Road and neighboring areas said they received late or no notice of the proposed development and disapproved of the community meetings being held outside of the district. Several of the residents spoke in opposition of the proposal Tuesday night, noting worries of increased commercial traffic and the uncertainty of what businesses could be tenants within the warehouse.Â
Communities of color are hit harder by air pollution
Environmental concerns were also a common concern among residents who worry that the removal of woodlands could lead to additional air pollution, the loss of a noise buffer, runoff in the nearby Mill Creek and negative impact on wildlife — though part of the ordinance limits disturbances to stream buffers and the floodplain.Â
“Removing this forest and allowing industry to proliferate in Antioch isn’t just marginalization — it is targeted,” said Jason Miller, who grew up in District 28.Â
A vote to defer consideration of the ordinance to allow for more community input failed, and the council approved the proposal 19-11 on its second of three readings. Three councilmembers abstained. The plan previously received unanimous support from the Metro Planning Commission.
This article was first published by our sister publication, the Nashville Post.
