Developer seeks industrial zoning for 2791 Couchville Pike; residents raise sewer and truck-traffic concerns

Alliance Industrial presented preliminary plans at an online meeting hosted by Metro Councilman Russ Bradford for rezoning about 11 acres at 2791 Couchville Pike from R20 to IWD (industrial warehouse district) to allow an approximately 130,000-square-foot industrial building and related parking and tenant spaces.

The developer said the proposal is preliminary and has not been filed with the planning department. William Tanner, managing director and partner of Alliance Industrial’s Nashville office, said the firm is seeking IWD zoning and described the site plan as “about a 130,000 square feet” with vehicle parking and space intended for light manufacturing, distribution or service-oriented tenants.

“This is just preliminary. Nothing’s been submitted to the planning department just yet,” Councilman Russ Bradford said, explaining the next steps: filing with the planning department, departmental review, a public hearing at the planning commission, and then two Metro Council readings if the commission recommendation is favorable.

Why it matters: the rezoning would change the mix of allowed uses on a stretch of Couchville Pike that already contains industrial developments, and residents said the development could affect sewer access, traffic patterns and neighborhood noise.

Residents asked detailed questions about sewer hookups and traffic routing during the meeting. A neighbor identified in the transcript as Diane Stark asked, “Where is the sewage supposed to we need these 3 houses here ... since there’s not sewage running down this road, how is that gonna access how are those buildings gonna tap into the system?”

Tanner said the developer is “looking at a few different options, with Metro, right now. We’ve looked at capacity letters and doing some studies. I know a few of the properties in the area have gone on ... used a lift station and run a private line to the property. We’re looking at that, running city sewage.” He said the team is waiting for Metro to advise which approach Metro would prefer.

Bradford and Tanner discussed a possible partnership approach should Metro require larger pipe sizes to allow neighbors to tie in later. Bradford described a common arrangement in which a developer installs a larger-diameter pipe and Metro covers the incremental cost: the developer “will only pay for [the smaller size], but you’ll install 24 or 36, and Metro will turn around and cover the difference,” Bradford said, describing how such contracts can improve future capacity and allow residents to connect.

Traffic and routing were another focus. Residents asked whether trucks would use Bell Road, Pulley or Pleasant Hill. Tanner said he expects trucks to favor routes that provide the fastest interstate access, routing west on Couchville Pike toward Murfreesboro Pike and then to I-24 or I-40, but he acknowledged that preventing trucks from choosing alternate local streets is difficult.

Council staff said they will follow up on signage and enforcement with the appropriate roadway agency. Tanner said the site is not intended for a very large distribution user (for example, a high-volume e-commerce fulfillment center) and the developer currently envisions tenants that would generate more delivery vans and smaller trucks rather than heavy daily 18-wheel traffic, although no tenants are signed.

Tanner also described planned on-site security measures. “There will certainly be cameras,” he said, adding that gated, card-access controls could be considered if the final tenant mix or hours of operation make that appropriate.

Several neighbors asked about off-site road improvements and widening Couchville Pike. Tanner and Bradford said off-site improvements would be determined during the planning department review; any required turn lanes, egress changes or widening would be conditions of final approval if Metro determines they are necessary.

The developer offered to meet separately with neighbors to discuss sewer options after receiving Metro’s guidance. Bradford said he would debrief with the developer and encouraged residents to email him with additional concerns. “Feel free to shoot me an email, russ.bradford@nashville.gov,” Bradford said.

No formal applications, motions or votes occurred at the meeting; the presentation was a preliminary community outreach step before formal submission to the planning department.

The councilman said the planning process will provide further opportunities for public comment: the planning commission public hearing and subsequent Metro Council readings if the application advances.

Photographs and a slide presentation of the proposed site were shown during the meeting. Tanner said the proposed facade would be typical tilt-wall construction with glass on the office frontage to present a business-like face to the street, and that the parcel sits amid other industrial-zoned properties in the community character policy’s industrial district.