Stormwater commission denies fill variance for proposed soccer field at 401 Center Street

The Metro Stormwater Management Commission on May 1 denied a variance request that would have allowed 295 cubic yards of uncompensated fill in the floodplain at 401 Center Street, a parcel the applicant said would be leveled for a soccer field behind a private school in Old Hickory.

The commission said the application was incomplete, lacked an alternative site plan and a mitigation plan, and did not demonstrate a hardship that would justify fill in the floodplain, despite stormwater staff recommending support with conditions including a no-rise certification and required plan review before any future land disturbance.

Jeremiah Watson, who identified himself as an assistant to Scott Sherrod (the applicant's representative), told the commission the project would level roughly 1.5 to 2 feet of grade change to create a small soccer field and include measures "to make sure there's no erosion" and a level spreader at the…