Committee defers stormwater manual update after council members seek code clarity

At the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee meeting (date not specified), the panel recommended a one‑meeting deferral of RS2025‑1167, a resolution asking Metro Water Services to update the stormwater management manual to revise the infill tree credit and to include small multifamily buildings in the residential infill category.

The matter matters for neighborhoods across Nashville because the resolution seeks to change how tree credits and “residential infill” are applied to new construction and renovations. Councilmember Evan Siegel said he was “pretty frustrated” that written answers to questions he filed April 14 had not been provided and that the resolution as drafted assumes multifamily buildings are already treated as residential infill under current code.

Metro Water staff acknowledged ambiguity in the code’s current application. Steve Michieux, assistant director, said staff supports moving forward with the resolution so staff can “fix some of these gaps,” while Metro Water’s John Honeysucker told the committee, “we're also committed to open that that same offer to you to sit down with you directly 1 on 1, to have this conversation,” and to provide follow‑up answers in writing.

Council members asked whether the “residential infill” rules apply only when section 15.64.110 does not; Metro Water staff said the fit is unclear and that some multifamily buildings are treated as commercial under existing thresholds. Staff cited permitting thresholds in Volume 1, section 3.4.0.3 — commercial grading/permit requirements typically apply to properties over about 10,000 square feet or when earthwork exceeds roughly 100 cubic yards — and said those numeric thresholds factor into when commercial stormwater rules apply.

Sponsor Councilmember Druffel described the resolution as a request for Metro Water to study and return with changes via the stormwater manual; staff and the sponsor acknowledged attendant code changes may be required to achieve the goal. Councilmember Raulin Horton moved a one‑meeting deferral to allow written responses to be distributed; the committee recommended the deferral by voice vote, 10‑0.

Next steps: Metro Water committed to meet individually with council members and to return with clearer written responses and, if needed, code change language at the next committee meeting.