Planning commission delays decision on Crowley Drive setback amendment after safety concerns

The Nashville Planning Commission on Wednesday postponed action on a plat amendment that would remove platted setbacks for a corner lot at 600 Crowley Drive and Ivy Street after residents said the change would reduce visibility at a neighborhood intersection leading to Charlotte Park.

Staff recommended approval with conditions, saying the removal of the platted setbacks would not eliminate setback requirements but would cause the lot to revert to the R-8 zoning standards and that setback determinations would be made by codes when a building permit is applied for. Councilman Horton moved to defer the item one meeting so the applicant and neighbors could meet; the commission carried the motion by voice vote.

The applicant, Harold Johnson, told the commission he plans to push the building farther back on the lot and said he had spoken with nearby neighbors. Johnson said the existing house sits roughly 28 feet from Crowley Drive and that his plan would place the house about 38 feet from Crowley, which he said would increase sight lines. Several neighbors opposed the amendment during the public hearing. "My main concern is pedestrian safety. The current setbacks offer crucial visibility to the intersection of Crowley Drive and Ivy Street," said Judy Lazier, who lives immediately adjacent to 600 Crowley Drive. Resident Maria Baldo told commissioners that Ivy Street is the only entrance to Charlotte Park and that "this intersection experiences hundreds of cars and hundreds of people on foot every single day to access the park." John Mummert, who lives on Ivy Street, said changing the setback would make the corner look out of place and could reduce visibility when turning from Ivy onto Crowley.

Planning staff explained that the property is a corner lot of approximately 8,800 square feet that has been zoned for single- and two-family residential use since 1974. The original recorded plat, dated 1980, showed 20-foot platted setbacks on both Crowley and Ivy. If the commission removes the platted lines, staff said the codes department would apply the R-8 zoning standards at the permit stage: a contextual front setback along Crowley (the average of adjacent front setbacks) and a reduced side setback (corner side) to one-half of the required standard, which in this case would be 10 feet. Staff noted the contextual front setback along Crowley would be about 33 feet based on the adjacent block face.

Staff also said that driveway layout and sight-distance review would take place when a building permit is submitted and that the appropriate transportation review body inspects those elements at that stage. Commissioners and the council member repeatedly emphasized that the public hearing was the last routine in-person opportunity for neighbors to be heard on the item and encouraged the applicant to meet with residents during the deferral period. The commission set the item to return at its next regular meeting (the agenda lists Sept. 25).

No formal vote on the plat amendment was taken; the commission voted to postpone consideration for one meeting. The motion to defer was made by Councilman Horton and seconded (second not recorded in the transcript); the motion carried by voice vote.

Background and process notes: Under the city's process for plat amendments, removal of a platted setback does not abolish setbacks entirely but typically means the platted lines revert to the zoning-code standards for that district. For corner lots in R-8 zoning, front-setback calculations can use a contextual average of adjacent properties; side setbacks on corners may be reduced to half the required standard. The transcript reminded attendees that decisions of the planning commission may be appealed to the Davidson County Chancery or Circuit Court by petition filed within 60 days of the commission's decision.

What remains next: The commission deferred the item for one meeting to allow applicant-community discussions and for commissioners to pose any technical questions they want answered during the deferral. Staff will continue to apply zoning standards and will inspect driveway and sight-line issues at the building-permit stage if and when a permit is filed.