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An ordinance to amend Title 17 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws, the Zoning Ordinance of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, to clarify the entitlements of properties which are adjacent or within rail corridors within 17.37, Downtown Code, all of which is described herein (Proposal No. 2026Z-004TX-001).
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WHEREAS, The Council of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County adopted the Downtown Code (DTC) on February 2, 2010; and
WHEREAS, The Metropolitan Government recognizes the importance of updating, clarifying, and refining the Downtown Code (DTC) standards to encourage high quality, sustainable urban development; and
WHEREAS, the refinement of the DTC will continue to ensure a quality urban experience for the citizens, businesses, and visitors of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County; and
WHEREAS, The Metropolitan Government recognizes that properties located within and adjacent to rail corridors require clarified development entitlements to ensure compatible land uses and harmonious development patterns within Downtown; and
WHEREAS, the DTC to address properties within and adjacent to rail corridors will reduce ambiguity regarding their entitlements;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. That Chapter 17.37 of the Metropolitan Code is hereby amended by deleting the second bullet point within the section entitled “Regulating Plan” on page 13 of the DTC and replacing it with the following text:
• Subdistrict boundaries extend to the centerline of all abutting rights-of-way and rail corridors.
Section 2. That Chapter 17.37 of the Metropolitan Code is hereby amended by adding a section entitled “Unassigned Properties” on page 13 of the DTC with the following text:
• Unassigned Properties, including but not limited to any railroad corridors, are granted the entitlements of the adjacent subdistrict in their entirety. In the event a property has two or more adjacent subdistricts, the property is granted the entitlements of the subdistrict with the most restrictive standards and regulations. If these adjacent districts include height maximums expressed in a mixture of feet and stories, the most restrictive of each shall also apply.
Section 3. Be it further enacted, that this ordinance shall take effect immediately after its passage and such change be published in a newspaper of general circulation, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.
Agenda Analysis
Analysis
This ordinance amends Chapter 17.37 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws to clarify the entitlements of properties adjacent to or within railroad corridors within the Downtown Code (“DTC”). The ordinance as proposed would remove the Open Space Subdistrict and extend DTC subdistrict boundaries to the centerline of any right-of-way or railroad corridor and grant any property within the overall boundary of the DTC area that currently does not have an assigned subdistrict, including but not limited to railroad corridors, the full entitlements of the adjacent subdistrict. In instances where a property may border more than one subdistrict, then the subdistrict with the most restrictive standards and regulations shall apply.
Currently, railroad corridors and other unassigned properties fall within the Open Space Subdistrict, which lacks any specific dimensional standards, bulk regulations, or open space design requirements.
This item was approved by the Planning Commission at its April 23, 2026, meeting (7-0).