The minutes from our March 19, 2024 Council Meeting can be found here.
Dear Constituents,
Ahead of the first reading at today's Council Meeting (April 2), I wanted to provide a quick update on the zoning ordinance amendment for properties located at the northwest corner of Charlotte Avenue and 39th Ave N (2.7 acres). This amendment would permit a mixed-use development with 249 multi-family residential units and a grocery store (Proposal No. 2023SP-054-001).
Community feedback from the two district community meetings with the developer highlighted general support for the project but raised concerns about traffic, signalization, safety, and multi-modal transportation support. These concerns, including reworking traffic light signalization, safe bike lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks, and consideration for bus transit pull-offs, have been addressed by NDOT and will be part of the final conditions.
Another community interest was for a publicly accessible dog-friendly greenspace or dog park, which will be included in an additional amendment to the SP and followed through the council proceedings.
Regarding the residential portion, there was interest in affordable housing options and environmentally friendly building materials. However, due to state prohibitions, the city cannot require these by the builder. Nevertheless, I have worked with the builder to consider entering a program to provide units for certain vulnerable populations to access affordable rents, and the residential developer has agreed to pursue this program.
If you are unable to make the public hearing but would like something shared with you council, please email me directly and I will make sure it gets added into the public record.
Please reach out to Brenda.Gadd@Nashville.Gov email with any questions or concerns or if you need access to the Metro Council meetings. Services are available to assist with accessibility for those experiencing language or physical barriers.
Thank you for your continued engagement and support in improving our community.
Sincerely, Brenda Gadd Council Representative, District 24
LiUNA REACHES A DEAL WITH EAST BANK MASTER DEVELOPER
If you did not hear the exciting news today, The master developer of Nashville's East Bank redevelopment project has struck a deal with The Laborers' International Union of North America Local 386. I am proud to have played a small part along with my Metro Council colleagues in ensuring this agreement took place.
REGISTER YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP IN THE NEW N2N DIRECTORY OF NEIGHBORHOOD ORGANIZATIONS
Metropolitan Government has contracted with Neighbor 2 Neighbor to create a comprehensive directory of neighborhood organizations. This directory will be used by elected officials, government departments and agencies, residents / neighborhood leaders and other neighborhood stakeholders SEEKING TO CONNECT with your neighborhood group. N2N is hoping to have every neighborhood group registered by Monday, April 15th so that our new Directory of Neighborhood Organizations can go live by the end of May.
Want to participate in coversations regarding traffic calming on Elmington Avenue? Join an upcoming meeting with Metro Planners on April 15. Details are below.
Effective Sunday, March 31, 2024, WeGo Public Transit will implement system-wide service expansions and improvements on several routes in North Nashville, offer a new crosstown route, and an additional WeGo Link zone.
In anticipation of the opening of the Dr. Ernest Rip Patton, Jr. North Nashville Transit Center (NNTC), slated for late spring, these changes will provide improved service for the North Nashville community, including the new crosstown Route 71 – Trinity.
Improvements and changes of interest to District 24:
Improved frequency
77 Thompson/Wedgewood
Route modifications
77 Thompson-Wedgewood
will be re-routed to serve and connect with the upcoming
NNTC as well as County Hospital Road
Schedule adjustments
3 West End
77 Thompson/Wedgewood
A detailed listing of all route modifications and improvements can be found at:
The Cumberland River Compact is thrilled to be leading Nashville’s No Mow Month campaign for its second iteration this year. Throughout April, Davidson County residents are encouraged to refrain from mowing their lawns to preserve local ecosystems and mitigate stormwater. "By participating in No Mow Month, residents have a unique opportunity to make a tangible impact on the health of our waterways," stated Mekayle Houghton, executive director at the Cumberland River Compact. "Allowing grass to grow taller not only reduces stormwater runoff but also fosters healthier habitats for wildlife." At no cost, participants in No Mow Month will receive a distinctive yard sign to display their commitment to environmental stewardship throughout April. The Compact is partnering with Metro Nashville on this initiative, so residents who display a yard sign and make sure their grass remains under 12” tall will not be subject to relevant code violations.
METRO NASHVILLE CELEBRATES FOOD WASTE PREVENTION WEEK
Metro Water’s Division of Waste Services Encourages
Nashville Residents to Take Action Against Food Waste
In an effort to tackle food waste and promote sustainable practices within our community, Metro Nashville joins cities across America in celebrating Food Waste Prevention Week from April 1 to April 7. Food Waste Prevention Week aims to raise awareness about the staggering amount of food wasted each year and the significant impact it has on both our environment and society. Food waste and other organics represents approximately 1/3 of what Nashville residents throw away.
By diverting food waste from landfills, Nashville is also taking a significant step towards achieving its ambitious Zero Waste goal to reduce all waste to landfill by 90% by 2050. For more information on Nashville’s Zero Waste goals and how to reduce food waste, visit zerowaste.nashville.gov.
DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE INTERSTATE CORRIDOR PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL LINKAGES STUDY
The Tennessee Department of Transportation is excited to share an upcoming opportunity for you to have a say in the future of the Downtown Nashville Interstate Corridors!
TDOT will be holding a Virtual Public Engagement Event April 1-30, 2024, to determine overall urban congestion relief improvement strategies for the interstate network leading into and surrounding Downtown Nashville. The PEL Study considers the benefits and impacts of proposed transportation system improvements to the environment, community and economy during the early transportation planning process.
Draft concept maps showing the scope of Choose How You Move were updated on March 21st and posted at www.nashville.gov/transit
Did you know? A recent edition of The Power Pollshowed that 93% of respondents said Nashville’s traffic problems were such that we need to make “serious improvements in our transit system.”
MAKING A COMMITMENT TO ENSURE SAFETY DOWNTOWN
After the tragic loss of Riley Strain, my colleagues and I at Metro Council are working to ensure that these incidents do not happen again. In a large part thanks to the leadership of Councilmember Kupin, there is a proposal to make areas of downtown safer with more cameras, more lighting and barricades. Learn more from this NC5 article here.
REMEMBERING COVENANT | ONE YEAR LATER
Evelyn Dieckhaus, William Kinney, Hallie Scruggs, Mike Hill, Cynthia Peak, and Katherine Koonce were all lost on March 27, 2023.
I was proud to join friends, family and colleagues throughout Nashville this year to link arms to change to make a commitment for gun safety responsibility. I will continue to use my voice to fight for stronger reforms for gun safety in our schools and communities.
My heart and love continues to be with the families touched by this tragedy.
ICYMI: THE STATE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING DASHBOARD
On February 27 at the invitation of Vice Mayor Angie Henderson and Planning & Zoning Chair Jennifer Gamble, Metro Planning’s Housing Division conducted an Affordable Housing “201” Educational Session for Council Members in the David Scobey Council Chamber at the Historic Courthouse & City Hall. Metro’s Housing Division Director Angela Hubbard and her team provided Council with an update on housing affordability in Nashville, various projects, programs, and initiatives underway and planned, and an update on efforts to continue progress in meeting the goals laid out in the 2021 Affordable Housing Task Force.
This dashboard is an incredibly valuable tool to understand the current climate of affordable housing in Nashville and Davidson Co.
THE MAYOR'S SPRING CLEAN IS APRIL 6TH!
This annual event hosted by Mayor’s Office and NDOT in partnership with district beautification commissioners and council members.
For more information on cleanups register in this link:
NASHVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO ADD 30+ NEW FIREFIGHTERS
Recruits completed more than 1,000 hours of extensive training.
The Nashville Fire Department will add more than 30 new firefighters to the department during a graduation ceremony at Madison Church of Christ on Friday, April 12, 2024.
NFD Director Chief William Swann, Mayor Freddie O’Connell, Deputy Director Chief Tim Henderson, and Fire Operations Chief of Training Moses Jeffries IV will present each of the graduates with a certificate of completion and their official badge. Family, friends and fellow NFD personnel will be in attendance to celebrate Battalion 89’s accomplishment.
A Tennessee State Trooper will also graduate from the academy with his EMT License.
Battalion 89 completed more than 1,000 hours of an intensive curriculum, including classroom lectures and hands on training. Their hands-on training included live fire training, swift water rescue training and high angle rescue techniques.
All information related to Metro’s purchasing process is available in one, central location at purchasing.nashville.gov. Click the top link to learn about doing business with Metro or visit TinyURL.com/WorkWithMetro directly.
GADD ON THE GO
If you see a pothole during your commute, report it through hubNashville:
