The month of October asks us to show up for one another when we need each other most. Highlighted in this message are awareness months with resources to help each other.

 

💜 It’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and our community continues to lead with care and accountability. If you or someone you know needs support, Nashville’s Office of Family Safety operates two Family Safety Centers where survivors can access safety planning, orders of protection, counseling referrals, and more—no appointment needed (https://ofs.nashville.gov/family-safety-center/). Our local partners—the YWCA of Nashville & Middle Tennessee and the Mary Parrish Center remain steadfast in providing help to those in need of escaping interpersonal violence. This month I joined the Nashville Coalition Against Domestic Violence at its annual “Meet Us at the Bridge” observance that honors lives lost and recommits us to prevention, and will continue to work to implement the position of the domestic violence firearm dispossession investigator position as a partnership between MNPD and OFS.

 

🎀 It’s also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Early detection saves lives, and there are free or low-cost screening options in Nashville. The Metro Public Health Department’s Breast & Cervical Screening Program can help uninsured or under-insured residents access mammograms, and Nashville General Hospital and other local providers are offering October screening opportunities—please share these resources with neighbors who might need them. (Resources are in the newsletter below.)

 

🪔 We also recognize important days of faith and culture—wishing a joyful Diwali to all who celebrate. This important holiday recognizes the 'victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance' and has been marked throughout our community this year with days of celebration. Thank you Richland Park Farmer's Market and Suraj Spices and Teas for the lndian Holiday Fest and Chai Crawl as part of the celebration. What a tasty way to kick off this special holiday!

 

🕯️With the conclusion of the Jewish High Holidays combined with the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, many in our community have held their breath as hostages taken on October 7, 2023, are released (or their remains delivered home). As our community processes events that may seem far to many but all to close to many here at home, we hold space for neighbors affected by the Israel–Hamas ceasefire, and we continue to support the safety and dignity of our Jewish, Israeli, Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim community members here at home. Thank you to all who reached out regarding a recent council resolution that was withdrawn to share your heartache and position and point of view with me. 

 

In this spirit of care—whether it’s helping a survivor find a safe path forward, encouraging a friend to schedule a screening or connecting with a member of our community impacted by harm far away or hear at home—let’s keep showing up for one another this month.

 

Your neighbor in gratitude, 

 

Brenda Gadd

Councilmember, District 24

 

P.S. On a lighter note, I am wishing all of our littles a safe spooky season! 🎃  We look forward to joining the many in our neighborhood of Richland-West End in handing out sweet treats  to the trick or treaters. Please be sure to cross all streets safely and look out for one another! Wishing you all the best treats this Halloween! 🎃n🍭 🎃 🍬 🎃 

🎀 October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! 🎀 Throughout the month the Metro Public Health Department (MPHD) Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Team will be sharing resources, information, and free screenings at several community events. Join in the fight against breast cancer and help spread awareness and support. Click here for resources. 

 

     💗 What? Join the MPHD (and me) for Pink Out!

     📍 Where? Lentz Public Health Center

     📅 When? Monday, Oct. 27 | ⏰ 11 AM – 1 PM

📅 Community Learning Opportunities

🏠 Housing & Infrastructure Proposals: What’s Being Considered 

 

Thank you to all who attended our district 24 community meetings with the Metro Planning and Metro Historic Zoning Department on October 1st and our joint district community meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 22nd with the planning department. If you missed these opportunities to learn more and ask questions, you can watch the Oct. 1st meeting here or attend one of the upcoming meetings in other parts of the county. 📅 Dates, times and locations are listed here.  

 

For many, this is redundant information as I have been sharing information regarding the earlier community meetings on the creation of the proposals and now the proposals that are in front of us now. I hope you will take time to review or send to folks that may be interested in learning more. The info below is updated with updates and resources. If you need information regarding the rezoning process and/or the Metro Council legislative process please let me know. I am working on hosting a couple of community opportunities to learn more about the process as “Metro Council 101 + Zoning Process” that I hope helps folks. If this is something you would like me to host for your neighborhood association or group please let me know. 

 

Why are these proposals here? The Metro Council asked the Planning Department to conduct the Housing & Infrastructure (H&I) Study with community engagement and to bring forward proposals for us to consider. Below is what’s on the table, and information on what the proposals do and do not do.  

 

→ Learn More / Meeting Info → https://engage.nashville.gov/housingandinfrastructure

→ H&I Study Hub → https://engage.nashville.gov/s50752#tab-67675

 

These text amendments to the Metro Code propose to implement parts of Housing and Infrastructure study recommendations. They do not change the zoning on any property. Any future rezoning would go through the normal public process.

 

→ What it does: Allows DADUs in both R and RS districts within the Urban Services District (USD) and sets size/placement standards. (Today, DADUs are allowed in R or in RS only where a DADU Overlay applies.)

→ Historic/Conservation Overlays:  DADUs would be allowed in conservation overlays but would be reviewed by the Metro Historic Zoning Commission (MHZC) under existing Conservation Overlay Design Guidelines—just as outbuilding or detached garages are reviewed now.

→ No Short-Term Rentals (STRs): With feedback from you and councilmembers wanting to prohibit DADUs eligibility for STR permits, the planning department and sponsor is presenting a substitute bill that will be considered at the planning commission meeting tonight for adoption. DADUare not eligible for STR permits; the owner must occupy the property (either the main house or the DADU). Please note that the updated version of the bill as approved by the planning commission includes the prohibition of STRs and will be available for viewing on the public website before the November 4th public hearing at Metro Council. 

 

→ What it does: Adds Residential Neighborhood (RN) and Residential Limited (RL) districts to the code as *options* for future rezonings. These are the first in the code to have strict design standards and are more modest in size than current zoning classifications that are currently being used. Creates standards for the types of buildings including required building materials, design standards, setbacks and greenspace.

→ What it does *not* do: Does not rezone any property. R/RS properties remain R/RS unless a future rezoning is requested and approved by the planning commission and council. 

→ Uses: Non-residential uses match what’s already allowed in R (e.g., parks, churches/daycares with conditions). 

→ The Metro Council deferred this bill at the last council meeting for one month for more time for community members to learn about it. The public hearing at the Metro Council will be held on Tuesday, November 4th. If you would like to participate in the public hearing please let me know and I will send you all the information you will need! Look forward to seeing you at the council. Please know this is not the final vote for the bill but a great opportunity to share your voice.

 

BL2025-1006 – Design Standards & Duplex Rules (“Tall & Skinny” regulation bill) Restricts height, updates designs to better reflect neighborhoods in response to community feedback.

→ What it does: Updates height and design standards in R & RS districts to better reflect typical neighborhood context; simplifies but does not change permitting in Agricultural and R districts (does not change RS) where already allowed.

→ Why: Responds to long-standing concerns about out-of-scale infill and removes complicated date-based conditions.

 

→ A voluntary incentive program (enabled by state law) to encourage attainable housing in new by offering zoning incentives in exchange for building more financially attainable housing. This is being developed now as a tool to create below market rate housing.

→ Read the Draft Concept 

 

→ No automatic multifamily in R/RS. Creating RN and RL *does not* allow large multifamily on R or RS lots. A property would need a future rezoning to RN/RL (or to a multifamily district) to change what can be built.

→ No plex houses by right in R/RS. Adding RN/RL to the code *does not* change what’s permitted on R/RS today.

→ H&I FAQ → https://engage.nashville.gov/HousingAndInfrastructure#tab-67675 

 

 🧰 Where to Read the Text & Watch Explainers

H&I Landing Page: overview, videos, exhibits, timelines

Text Amendments Tab (all proposals): summaries, explainer videos, exhibits

Zoning Classifications (reference guide):

Here: https://www.nashville.gov/departments/planning/land-development/rezone-my-property/zoning-classifications 

 

 🧭 Key Takeaways

→ No automatic zoning changes: Your property’s zoning remains the same unless a separate, future rezoning is applied for and approved.

→ DADUs: Would be allowed in R and RS in the USD with MHZC design review in Conservation Overlays; no STR eligibility (with substitute bill that will be before the council on November 4th); owner-occupancy required on property.

→ Design & duplex standards: Aims to reduce out-of-scale “tall & skinny” construction and simplify duplex rules in R(no change to **RS** duplex restrictions).

→ RN/RL districts: New *tools* in the code—available only via future rezoning requests and Council action.

→ Incentives: A separate, voluntary Attainability Bonus is in development by staff now.

 

NOTE: If you read something here that seems off or you have questions, please reach out—I’m working hard to keep this accurate and useful, but I’m (very) human and appreciate your feedback for accuracy and engagement. Email: Brenda.Gadd@Nashville.Gov 

➡️ Bowling Avenue Traffic Calming: We concluded the second meeting with neighbors of the Richland West End Neighborhood Association on Mon, Oct. 13th to learn about the updated traffic calming proposal for the section of Bowling Ave between West End and Murphy Road. The full design plans will be posted at https://www.nashville.gov/departments/transportation/plans-and-programs/traffic-calming/final-design-plans early next week, followed by the voting cards being mailed out to homeowners on the street. At this time the ballot should be mailed to homeowners by next week and if so the vote will remain open until Dec. 12. 

 

➡️ Estes Traffic Calming from Woodmont to Woodlawn: We will work with NDOT to schedule our first community meeting and will update neighbors of that meeting. Thank you to neighbors for pursuing safety and traffic calming. 

 

➡️ Estes Road Water Main: Work on the new line is complete, and milling, paving, striping is currently being finished. If you or neighbors are experiencing any water pressure or other issues please reach out. I have been working with neighbors in the areas to address construction concerns and water concerns over the past several months. 

 

➡️ 38th Avenue Water Storage Tank: A new 2.5 million-gallon tank was installed between 37th and 38th Ave. N., and completion is still in progress but I am working to get the latest update for our next newsletter. This will include sidewalks!

 

➡️ Rezoning of Rolland Avenue: Neighbors on Rolland Avenue reached out about a month or so ago to have discussions about rezoning their properties. Currently zoned for R8 neighbors invited me to their home for a meeting several weeks ago to discuss their interest in rezoning to R10. After discussion and property owner agreement, I am working to apply for the rezoning on their behalf to remove cost and will be filing the rezoning to start the process this month. I will update in the next newsletter the process for the rezoning including timelines, community meetings, planning commission and council process (currently homes are zoned at R8 which allows for one or two homes to be built and R10 would restrict to one home being allowed to be built on the property). Please feel free to reach out in the mean time with any questions. I have sent email notifications to the leadership of the nearest neighborhood associations about this rezoning as well. 

 

Last week, I joined the *Sylvan Park Neighborhood Association President* and *NDOT staff* for a neighborhood *walk audit* to review pedestrian safety, lighting needs, and traffic control measures throughout the area. I want to thank everyone who participated and shared feedback firsthand.

 

* Conducting a speed study on Murphy Road for a potential speed limit reduction.

* Tracking striping changesto align with upcoming repaving.

* Submitting enhanced crosswalks with flashing beacons (RFBs) at 51st & Park and 46th & Park.

* Reviewing lighting improvements for roundabout on Murphy Road/46th Ave.

* Evaluating options to Murphy Road bike lane with delineators for added safety.

 

NDOT also shared a three-year crash report to guide continued safety planning. I’m grateful to our neighborhood leaders and NDOT for their collaboration in making Sylvan Park’s streets safer for everyone.

 

The Property Tax Relief and Property Tax Freeze Programs, funded by both the state and Metro governments, help lower tax burdens for older residents (65+), disabled homeowners, and 100% disabled veterans. Qualifying individuals may apply through the Metro Trustee’s Office anytime through April 5, 2026. isit the trustee's website or call (615) 862-6330.