Planning board recommends rezoning of 1520 Oak Level Road from A-1 to B-1

The Town of Nashville Planning Board voted unanimously on Feb. 25 to recommend that the Town Council approve rezoning case RZ 2002502, which would change 1520 Oak Level Road (a 4.76-acre parcel) from Agriculture-1 (A-1) to Business-1 (B-1). The applicant, identified in the record as 301 Limited Partnership, is represented by Kevin Barnell of Stocks Engineering.

Planning staff told the board the applicant submitted the rezoning application on Jan. 17, 2025, and that the parcel adjoins the town’s Fire Station No. 2, which is under construction. “This property has got sewer and water and it is available,” the planner said during the hearing. Staff described the proposed B-1 district as consistent with the town’s comprehensive plan and with a recent rezoning for a Dollar General further down the road.

The rezoning request was described in staff materials as consistent with the Town of Nashville Future Land Use Map, which designates nearby parcels for low- and medium-density residential uses. Staff acknowledged that rezoning the parcel to B-1 departs from the map’s residential labels but said the site’s frontage on Oak Level Road and proximity to existing commercial zoning supported the request.

Kevin Barnell, representing the property owner, told the board the original tract was roughly nine acres and had been subdivided so the fire station sits on one half and the adjacent vacant lot is the parcel proposed for rezoning. “We split it into 2 roughly 4 and a half acre pieces with the left side being the fire station, the right side being vacant,” Barnell said.

After a brief public hearing in which no residents signed up to speak, the board deliberated and voted to recommend approval. The board’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Town Council for final action; staff noted required technical review would occur if and when an actual development plan is submitted for the vacant lot.

Votes at a glance: The planning board moved to recommend approval of RZ 2002502 (A-1 to B-1) and passed the motion unanimously. The motion was made by Miss Lewis and seconded by Mr. Harper, and the board’s recommendation includes the standard referral to the Town Council with staff’s finding that, on balance, the rezoning would provide opportunity for business growth along the Oak Level Road corridor.

The planning director advised that the Town Technical Review Committee (TRC) had not met on this parcel specifically and would review engineering and infrastructure issues at the development stage. The rezoning sign, mailed notices and legal advertisements for the planning board hearing were documented in the staff packet.