Metropolitan Council - 2026-01-20
Meeting Intelligence Preview
Meeting Summary
The Metropolitan Council meeting on January 20, 2026 focused heavily on controversial downtown public safety grants from the Nashville Downtown Partnership, with council ultimately approving resolutions accepting funds for surveillance cameras (15-20-3), an armored rescue vehicle (19-16-2), a mobile command post (20-14-3), and a tactical support post (18-14-4) despite significant community opposition citing concerns about ICE collaboration and surveillance. The council also passed a voluntary attainable housing incentive program on second reading and approved a TPAC performing arts facility development agreement on the East Bank Stadium campus (28-2-1).
Key Decisions (19)
Downtown Public Safety Grant - Surveillance Cameras
Resolution 2026-1733 accepting monetary donation from Nashville Downtown Partnership to MNPD for purchase of 15 video cameras to replace existing cameras downtown. Substituted to change from donation to grant with reporting requirements.
Downtown Public Safety Grant - Armored Rescue Vehicle
Resolution 2026-1734 accepting monetary donation from Nashville Downtown Partnership to MNPD for purchase of an armored rescue vehicle. Substituted to change terminology from donation to grant.
Downtown Public Safety Grant - Mobile Command Post
Resolution 2026-1735 accepting monetary donation from Nashville Downtown Partnership to MNPD for purchase of a mobile command post with monitors, desktop computers, Internet, comms devices, chairs, tables, whiteboards.
Downtown Public Safety Grant - Tactical Support Post
Resolution 2026-1736 accepting monetary donation from Nashville Downtown Partnership to MNPD for purchase of a tactical support post. Substituted to change from donation to grant.
Voluntary Attainable Housing Incentive Program
Ordinance BL2025-1008 establishing voluntary attainable housing incentive program authorizing incentives for property owners building multifamily attainable housing. Developers can receive bonus floors if providing 10% of units at 80% AMI for 30 years in RL zoning district.
TPAC Performing Arts Facility Development Agreement
Ordinance BL2025-1150 authorizing development agreement and ground lease with Tennessee Performing Arts Center Management Corporation for performing arts facility on East Bank Stadium campus.
Meridian Barriers MOU
Resolution 2026-1730 approving MOU between Metropolitan Sports Authority and MNPD for purchasing and deployment of Meridian barriers (mobile vehicle barriers for events).
Violent Crime Intervention Fund Grant
Resolution 2026-1731 accepting violent crime intervention fund grant from Tennessee Department of Finance to MNPD for public safety strategies. Letter from state confirms immigration enforcement requirements do not apply to Nashville.
Hot Spot Violent Crime Grant Amendment
Resolution 2026-1732 approving amendment three to hot spot violent crime intervention fund grant from Tennessee office of criminal justice programs to MNPD.
Centennial Sportsplex License Agreement
Ordinance BL2025-1118 approving license and lease agreement with Powers Management LLC for Centennial Sportsplex at 222 25th Avenue North. Amended to require operators to provide annual pricing list to parks board.
Fence Permit Ordinance
Ordinance BL2025-1115 requiring fence permits for permanent opaque fences (fences you cannot see through). Self-attestation process similar to alarm permits - no inspections required, just acknowledgment of rules.
Access Management Manual Implementation
Ordinance BL2025-1147 amending access management sections to implement access management manual for regulations and guidelines for access from private property to public rights of way.
Electric Vehicle Charging Station Zoning Amendment
Ordinance BL2025-1116 adding electric vehicle charging station use and related definitions to zoning code. Substitute adds RL and RN zoning districts.
Buchanan Street Commercial Compatibility Overlay
Ordinances BL2025-1168 and BL2025-1169 applying commercial compatibility overlay district to properties on Buchanan Street between 21st Avenue North and Interstate 65 (15.78 acres) and between 24th Avenue North and 21st Avenue North (5.61 acres).
Green Hills Neighborhood Conservation Overlay
Ordinances BL2025-1175 and BL2025-1176 applying neighborhood conservation zoning overlay to properties North of Shackleford Road, West of Belmont Boulevard, East of Oriole Place, South of Glen Echo Road. Zoned RS10 and R10, 38 acres.
Charter Amendment Resolution
Resolution 2024-559 providing amendments to Metropolitan Charter deferred indefinitely due to uncertainty surrounding potential charter revisions from state supreme court ruling.
Boring Company Opposition Resolution
Resolution 2026-1712 opposing Boring Company's proposed tunnels within Nashville, condemning lack of transparency and community engagement.
Downtown Partnership MOU Withdrawn
Resolution 2025-1659 regarding MOU with Nashville Downtown Partnership for FY26 downtown public safety grant application was withdrawn as moot since Downtown Partnership already has the funds.
Charter Revision Preparation Resolution Withdrawn
Resolution 2026-1759 directing council office to develop scenarios for potential charter amendments regarding council size was withdrawn after sponsor determined existing processes sufficient.
Zoning Changes (23)
1435 Meridian Street at corner of Meridian Street and Gatewood Avenue
Not specified
4040-4048 Maple Street at Southeast Corner of Maple Street and 4th Avenue
Not specified
3208, 3210, 3212, 3218 Glencliff Road
Not specified
2130-2142 Buena Vista Pike and 3005-3009 Cliff Drive
Not specified
708 26th Avenue North, approximately 205 feet north of Clifton Avenue
Not specified
322 Luedie Street, approximately 235 feet east of Nolensville Pike
Not specified
3417 Springbrook Drive, approximately 392 feet north of Woodmont Boulevard
Not specified
308 Peachtree Street, approximately 212 feet west of Burbank Avenue
Not specified
Various properties along Lathan Court, South of Yonge Lane and North of Cumberland River
Not specified
308 Polk Avenue at corner of Polk Avenue and Whitney Avenue
Not specified
7435 Old Hickory Boulevard
Not specified
14768 Old Hickory Boulevard
Not specified
9329, 9323, 9315 Highway 100 and portion of 8540 Old Harding Pike
Not specified
3055 Lebanon Pike and Lebanon Pike unnumbered
Not specified
919C Gallatin Avenue
Not specified
3827 Cleghorn Avenue, approximately 490 feet north of Abbott Martin Road
Not specified
222, 230, 240 Great Circle Road, approximately 428 feet north of Vantage Way
Not specified
Haney Avenue unnumbered, approximately 369 feet west of Brick Church Pike
Not specified
114 Rose Street, approximately 160 feet east of Foster Avenue
Not specified
Old Hickory Boulevard unnumbered, approximately 249 feet east of Ferris Avenue
Not specified
Buchanan Street between 21st Avenue North and Interstate 65
Council Member Taylor
Buchanan Street between 24th Avenue North and 21st Avenue North
Council Member Taylor
North of Shackleford Road, West of Belmont Boulevard area
Council Member Prepti
Development Activity (9)
Glencliff Road Multifamily Development
80 multifamily residential units on 6.88 acres. Mix of single family and townhomes, 2-4 bedrooms, 1,400-2,000 square feet. Includes walking trails, public access playground, 20-foot buffer from Twin Oaks subdivision.
Buena Vista Pike Mixed Use Development
Mixed use development on 5.29 acres. Rezoning from R8 to SP. Includes requirement for replacement store if existing bodega is removed.
Old Hickory Boulevard Mixed Use
Mixed use development with 208,000 square feet of nonresidential uses on 34.74 acres. Amending existing SP and changing from AR2A to SP.
Old Hickory Boulevard Multifamily
135 multifamily residential units on 20.24 acres. Changing from AR2A to SP zoning.
Highway 100/Old Harding Pike Development
SP zoning on 2.89 acres at northwest and southwest intersection of Old Harding Pike and Highway 100. Changing from CN, MUL, and AR2A.
Lebanon Pike Mixed Use Development
Mixed use development on 21.73 acres. Changing from OR20 and MUL to SP zoning.
Gallatin Avenue Mixed Use
Mixed use development on 0.86 acres. Changing from OR20 to SP zoning.
TPAC Performing Arts Facility
Performing arts facility development agreement and ground lease on portion of East Bank Stadium campus.
RiverNorth Urban Design Overlay Update
Update to regulating plan and subdistrict designations for 165.21 acres in RiverNorth area.
Market Signals (8)
Housing Demand
Council passed voluntary attainable housing incentive program allowing developers bonus floors in exchange for 10% of units at 80% AMI for 30 years, indicating strong policy push for workforce housing.
Commercial Demand
TPAC performing arts facility approved for East Bank Stadium campus, signaling continued investment in entertainment and cultural infrastructure downtown.
Infrastructure
Council approved Safe Streets for All grant amendment for Nolensville Pike addressing pedestrian safety, walking, bicycling, and transit facilities, indicating infrastructure investment in that corridor.
Sentiment
Significant community opposition to downtown surveillance and police equipment grants, with concerns about ICE collaboration and state control of local police, though grants ultimately passed by narrow margins.
Housing Demand
Multiple residential rezonings approved including 80-unit development on Glencliff Road and 135-unit development on Old Hickory Boulevard, indicating continued multifamily development pressure.
Infrastructure
Access management manual implementation approved to modernize development review process and improve street safety, affecting how private property connects to public rights of way.
Sentiment
Buchanan Street commercial compatibility overlay deferred for more community engagement, reflecting tensions between development intensity and neighborhood preservation in North Nashville.
Commercial Demand
RiverNorth Urban Design Overlay update approved for 165 acres, indicating continued planning for mixed-use development in that area.