Planning commission recommends disapproval of Councilmember Welsh’s District 16 rezoning and South Nashville UDO after large public hearing

The Metropolitan Planning Commission voted 6–1 on April 24 to recommend disapproval of a councilmember-filed rezoning map for parts of District 16 and a companion South Nashville urban design overlay (UDO), after a lengthy public hearing that drew hundreds of residents and dozens of speakers.

The proposal, filed by Councilmember Ginny Welsh, sought to rezone roughly 620.23 acres south of I‑440 and south of Thompson Lane to allow RM20 A NS and RM40 A NS zoning in many blocks near Nolensville Pike and to apply a UDO with alternative design standards. The commission considered a staff substitute that would have reduced the rezoning footprint and limited the UDO area; staff recommended disapproval as filed and approval of a smaller substitute in part.

Councilmember Ginny Welsh told commissioners she filed the proposal to “right size” zoning in a district that she said has seen piecemeal rezonings and to encourage “middle‑scale housing” near transit and services. “Zoning is not a technical issue; it’s a personal issue,” she said during the public hearing, arguing the UDO and rezoning were designed to give…