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An ordinance to amend Chapter 17.37 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws to establish an East Bank Design Review Committee within the Downtown Code (“DTC”), all of which is described herein (Proposal No. 2026Z-011TX-001).
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. That the Modifications to the Standards subsection of the Application of the DTC: Modifications section of Section I of the Downtown Code is amended by deleting it in its entirety and replacing it with the following:
Modifications to the Standards
Based on site-specific issues, an applicant may seek modifications to the standards of this document.
Any standard within the DTC may be modified, insofar as the intent of the standard is being met, the modification results in better urban design for the neighborhood as a whole, and the modification does not impede or burden existing or future development of adjacent properties.
The DTC, the Downtown Plan and any other policies and regulations from governing agencies shall be consulted when considering modifications. Any standards that shall not be modified are explicitly noted in this document.
Modifications may be approved by Planning staff, the Downtown Code Design Review Committee (DTC DRC) or the Planning Commission.
• Minor modifications - deviations of 20 percent or less - or modifications explicitly noted herein as minor may be approved by Planning Staff.
• Any determination made by the Planning Staff may be appealed to the DTC DRC or EB DRC.
• Major modifications - deviations of more than 20 percent - and modifications of standards without numbers may be approved by the DTC DRC. Within the East Use Area Bank and East Bend subdistricts, the East Bank Design Review Committee (“EB DRC”) shall act as the DTC DRC. Within MDHA redevelopment districts, the MDHA DRC shall act as the DTC DRC.
• Any determination made by the DTC DRC, the EB DRC, or the MDHA DRC regarding standards of the DTC may be appealed to the Planning Commission by the applicant or the Planning Department.
• All building permits for modifications authorized by the Planning Staff, DTC DRC, EB DRC or Planning Commission must be obtained within three years from the date of approval.”
Section 2. That the Modifications Application Process subsection of the Application of the DTC: Modifications section of Section I of the Downtown Code is amended by deleting it in its entirety and replacing it with the following:
Application Process
The DTC DRC shall review and approve a DTC Concept Plan for a site prior to approval of a DTC Final Site Plan. A recommendation from the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure shall be required for a DTC Concept Plan.
• The DTC, the Downtown Plan, other policies, official guidelines (such as the Downtown Code Design Guidelines), regulations from governing agencies, and other best practices shall be consulted when considering a DTC Concept Plan. No standard within the DTC shall relieve a project of the review process associated with a Concept Plan application.
• Modifications shall be requested concurrently with the DTC Concept Plan.
• Within the East Bank and East Bend subdistricts, the EB DRC shall act as the DTC DRC and final EB DRC approval shall act as the DTC Concept Plan.
• Within MDHA redevelopment districts, the MDHA DRC shall act as the DTC DRC and final MDHA approval shall act as the DTC Concept Plan.
• Any determination made by the Planning Staff may be appealed to the DTC DRC or EB DRC. Any determination made by the DTC DRC, EB DRC, or the MDHA DRC regarding standards of the DTC may be appealed to the Planning Commission by the applicant or the Planning Department.
Section 3. That the Design Review & Compliance subsection of the Application of the DTC: Design Review and Compliance section of Section I of the Downtown Code is amended by adding the following subsection after the Design Review Committee subsection:
East Bank Design Review Committee
The EB DRC is subject to the rules and procedures adopted by the Planning Commission for the DTC DRC. The EB DRC will consist of eight (8) voting members. All members shall be residents of Davidson County. One member shall be nominated by each of the following with confirmation by the Planning Commission:
• East Bank neighborhood association
• Cayce Place Resident Association District Council Member
• Urban Land Institute
• Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce
• Civic Design Center
One member shall be appointed by the following:
• Mayor
• Metropolitan Council
• Planning Commission
• Vice Mayor
The EB DRC member nominated by the District Council Member shall reside within the area on the east side of the Cumberland River, south of I-65 and west of I-24. If this member no longer resides within this area during their term, a vacancy shall be declared. If multiple District Council Members represent this area, this member shall be nominated by the consensus of all District Council Members.
The EB DRC member appointed by the Metropolitan Council shall reside within the East Nashville Community Plan, but not west of I-24. Only Council Members representing a Council District within this area may nominate a candidate for this member. The member shall be appointed by the same process within the Rules of Procedure of the Council of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County as used for election to boards.
Agenda Analysis
Analysis
This ordinance, as substituted amends Chapter 17.37 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws to Establish an East Bank Design Review Committee (EB DRC) within the Downtown Code (DTC) for the East Bank and Wasioto Bend subdistricts of the DTC.
Currently, the DTC has an eight-member Design Review Committee (DTC DRC), subject to the rules and procedures adopted by the Planning Commission. Four of these members are nominated by the Chamber of Commerce, the Civic Design Center, the Downtown Partnership, and the Urban Residents Association, with each organization nominating one member subject to confirmation by the Planning Commission. The remaining four members are directly appointed, with one member each chosen by the Mayor, the Vice-Mayor (on behalf of the Metro Council), the Historic Commission, and the Planning Commission. All members of the DTC DRC are required to be design professionals, except for the Chamber of Commerce member and the Downtown Partnership member, with a degree or significant experience in a design related field such as architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, or urban planning. The DTC requires the DTC DRC to review/approve DTC concept plans for all new development projects, with recommendations provided by the Planning Department and the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure. The DTC DRC also reviews/approves requests for modifications of DTC standards and requirements that the DTC empowers the DTC DRC to grant.
The ordinance proposes to create a separate design review committee, to be known as the East Bank Design Review Committee (EB DRC), to carry out the required review/approval of DTC concept plans and modifications of DTC standards and requirements for the East Use subarea, which includes the East Bank and Wasioto Bend subdistricts. The EB DRC would consist of eight members. As substituted, four members would be appointed, including one by the Mayor, one by the Vice Mayor, one by the Metropolitan Council, and one by the Planning Commission. Four members would be nominated, subject to confirmation by the Planning Commission, by a Council Member, the Urban Land Institute, the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, or the Civic Design Center.
The EB DRC member nominated by the District Council Member shall reside within the area on the east side of the Cumberland River, south of Interstate 65 and west of Interstate 24. If multiple District Council Members represent this area, this member shall be nominated by the consensus of all District Council Members.
The EB DRC member appointed by the Council shall reside within the East Nashville Community Plan, but not west of Interstate 24. Only Council Members representing a Council District within this area may nominate a candidate for this member. The member shall be appointed by the same process within the Council Rules of Procedure.
This item was approved by the Planning Commission with a substitute at its June 25, 2026, meeting (6-0).