Nashville’s Waverly-Belmont neighborhood was built as one of the city’s first streetcar subdivisions in the early 1900s. Now it will have zoning in place to protect its look and feel.
The Metro Council was unanimous Tuesday night in its support of a
neighborhood conservation zoning overlay that will govern a 151-acre area south of downtown.
The designation requires new home construction to fit the existing character, and it sets up an approval system before a home may be demolished.
The vote, which
had to clear three heated public meetings,
capped a discussion that started several years ago.
Short-Term Rental Property Rules Tighten
The council also tightened Nashville’s rules for short-term rental properties, such as Airbnbs.
The change comes less than a year after Metro
first began regulating and enforcing tax policies on these properties — the 1,000-plus spare rooms and vacation homes in Nashville that are offered for stays of less than 30 days.
The change allows Metro Codes to crack down on homes that advertise more than four available rooms, the maximum permitted in Nashville.
More rules are being sought, but the architect of the policy, councilwoman Burkley Allen, says she wants more input first.
“It will be a long, slow process. I don’t intend to change this thing on a regular basis, but I think it is kind of a learning experience,” she said.
After resistance, Allen decided to postpone creating new rules for detached units.
Pedal Taverns Closer To Rush Hour Ban
The council also moved pedal taverns — the elaborate bicycles that roll around downtown Nashville — one step closer to being banned from the roads during rush hour.
The council voted to give the Transportation Licensing Commission the power to
regulate when pedal taverns can be on the streets.
If transportation officials take action, the time restrictions would be added to rules about background checks for drivers, and equipment inspections.
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