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Planning Department leaders pledge collaborative transition as historic zoning staff move under their oversight
Summary
Lucy Kemp, executive director of Nashville's Planning Department, told the Metro Historic Zoning Commission on a transition update that her office intends to proceed carefully and collaboratively after Metro Council approved the staff transfer this spring.
Lucy Kemp, executive director of Nashville's Planning Department, told the Metro Historic Zoning Commission on a transition update that her office intends to proceed carefully and collaboratively after Metro Council approved the staff transfer this spring.
Kemp said the department will use a memorandum of understanding, a programmatic review and a citywide update to NashvilleNext to make preservation more prominent in planning decisions. "Trust is earned over time," Kemp said, and added that she was "committed to working through that with you, as we move forward."
Why it matters: Metro Council passed bill 2025-742 to move the historic zoning staff under the Planning Department. Commissioners and staff have raised concerns about the change in recent months; commissioners said the promised steps and face-to-face engagement could calm anxieties that arose during the restructuring.
Kemp outlined three early commitments: an administrative MOU to define the transition, a programmatic review of the historic zoning function to set shared goals, and partnership to produce a functional preservation plan to be folded into NashvilleNext. Joni Williams, assistant director in the Planning Department who will serve as a principal liaison, told the commission she will act as a point of contact and help coordinate work across the planning division's design studio.
Commissioners responded positively to the offer of regular meetings and a formal work session. Vice Chair Stewart, Commissioner Price and others thanked staff and welcomed the Planning Department's design resources; several commissioners said they felt reassured by the direct outreach. Robin Ziegler, chair of the Historic Zoning Commission, said she and the commission will work with planning staff on the programmatic review and transition steps.
What was said and next steps: Kemp and Williams invited the commission to request a work session and promised continuing engagement; the planning department said it expects to complete logistical steps in late June and to make office space available in the Metro Office Building near Second Avenue South ahead of the technical transition. Williams also described the planning department's design studio and encouraged commissioners to contact her with questions.
The exchange did not adopt any new rules or change commission authority on the record; commissioners and planning staff emphasized that the items discussed were commitments to process and collaboration rather than final policy changes.
Ending: Planning officials said more meetings and a programmatic review will follow; commissioners and staff agreed to continue coordination through June so the staff transfer proceeds with planned oversight and follow-up work.
