Council approves rezoning for Nash Arts senior center expansion, several annexations, appointments, land sale, flag choice and budget amendments

The Town of Nashville council on April 1 approved a batch of routine and policy items: a rezoning to allow a Nash County senior‑center expansion, several annexation steps, two library board appointments, a small land sale to cure a driveway encroachment, selection of a new town flag design, and budget amendments for farmers‑market and arts programming.

Rezoning for county senior center: the council conducted a public hearing and approved Ordinance 2025‑15 to rezone 100 E. Washington Street and 103 N. Austin Street from R‑10/residential and Office/Institutional to B‑2 (Central Business District). Nash County planning director Adam Tyson said the rezoning will allow expansion of the Nash Arts Senior Center and would align the parcel with adjacent B‑2 downtown zoning. Tyson said the county will address a potential small grave site, if present, during future site‑level permitting; he asked that a future specific‑site zoning review handle archaeological or cemetery concerns. The council approved the rezoning by recorded aye votes.

Appointments: the council appointed Natalie Brooks and Shirley Fisher to the library advisory board. Both are retired educators and local residents; the motion to appoint carried unanimously.

Land sale: the council approved a written offer from Carol Stewart to buy a 0.174‑acre strip of town land adjacent to 696 Cook Road that contains portions of the owner’s driveway. The purchase price was $2,500 plus survey and legal fees; council authorized advertising the sale per state procedures.

Annexations: the council directed the town clerk to investigate sufficiency for two annexation petitions and set public hearings for May 6, 2025. The properties are (1) a 7.514‑acre noncontiguous petition at 1860 US Highway 64 Alternate submitted by Nashville Development Company, and (2) a contiguous petition for Lot 24 (7.764 acres) adjacent to Fire Station No. 2 submitted by M3MR Limited Partnership. The council voted to proceed and set hearings.

Flag selection: after brief discussion the council selected a solid blue‑background flag bearing the town logo for use on municipal sites; council members said the blue option would show well downtown and on facility flags.

Budget amendments and grants: the council approved budget amendment No. 15 to carry forward unspent farmers‑market fresh‑produce match funds ($1,273) and budget amendment No. 16 to recognize a Nash Arts Council subgrant of $11,674 (about $9,674 for music at the market and $2,000 for arts education) and increase revenues and expenditures accordingly.

Votes at a glance (passed): - Ordinance 2025‑15: Rezoning of 100 E. Washington St. & 103 N. Austin St. to B‑2 — approved. - Resolution accepting NCDEQ loan (Essex Road): $500,000 principal forgiveness + $95,830 repayable loan — approved (seen in wastewater funding article). - Appointments: Natalie Brooks and Shirley Fisher to library advisory board — approved. - Land sale authorization (696 Cook Road to Carol Stewart) — approved. - Annexation sufficiency & public hearing set for 05/06/2025 (1860 US Hwy 64 Alternate and Lot 24 off Red Oak Level Road) — approved. - Town flag: solid blue background with town logo — approved. - Budget Amendment #15 (farmers market fresh‑match) +$1,273 — approved. - Budget Amendment #16 (Nash Arts subgrant) +$11,674 — approved.

Quotable: Adam Tyson, Nash County planning director: "The primary purpose for this rezoning ... is the proposed expansion of the existing Nash County Senior Center" and he asked the council to approve the rezoning to be consistent with town center goals.

Ending: Staff will process ordinances and resolutions, begin required annexation notices and public‑hearing advertising, execute the land‑sale advertisement per state statute, and incorporate the approved budget amendments into FY25 budget records.