Stormwater commission allows parking pad in Eaton Creek floodway with mitigation and one dissent

The Metro Nashville Stormwater Management Commission on Tuesday voted to allow an existing concrete pad in the Eaton Creek floodway at 4324 Cato Road to remain, provided the property owner completes a mitigation plan that includes a subsurface cistern for irrigation, revegetation of a triangular parcel south of the pad and a recorded maintenance plan and signage for a designated buffer area.

The commission’s decision matters because the pad lies in a regulated floodway and the case raised questions about permit routing and how incomplete information from the city’s permit help desk affected the homeowner’s actions. The commission approved keeping the pad with conditions; Commissioner Simpson cast the lone opposing vote.

Doug Sloan, attorney for the property owner, told the commission the owner purchased the home and later discovered a use-and-occupancy (UO) issue and asked the contractor whether a permit was needed for the work. Sloan said the contractor contacted the Metro Codes help desk and was…