Hendersonville committee weighs changing tree‑bank rules, medians, welcome signs and subdivision street signs

Hendersonville's General Committee discussed possible changes to the city's tree‑bank rules, options for new welcome signs and bridge art, median beautification along major corridors and a dispute over decorative subdivision street signs at its Jan. 14 meeting.

Mayor Jamie Cleary said the tree bank — an offset fund created by a city ordinance in the 1990s to pay for replacement trees when development removes them — has a growing balance but limited places where funds can currently be spent. "Quite possibly you all didn't know that we had a tree bank," Cleary said, and described how the bank charges developers by "caliper inch per caliper inch" when mature trees are removed and allows planting elsewhere on public property.

The committee discussed whether to amend the ordinance language so tree‑bank funds could be used to help plant or maintain trees in medians, commercial entrances and, in limited cases, on private property as an incentive when developers are reinvesting. Cleary said any use on private property would require an agreement obligating the private owner to maintain the trees and that budget proposals would return to the committee for review: "Even if we agree to change this, every time I come forward with the budget, you all have the opportunity to say, that's too much. That's too little. That's not where I want them to go."

Why it matters: Tree‑bank funds are restricted today to public property and right of way, and committee members said the city is running out of obvious public sites to spend the money. Allowing limited private‑property uses could accelerate visible improvements on corridors such as West Main Street, but would require either an ordinance change or explicit budget direction and maintenance commitments from property owners.

Medians and TDOT right of way: Committee members then considered medians on major roads, especially West Main Street and New Shackle Island Road. Cleary and staff noted that many of the most neglected medians are on state right of way and would require Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) permission to alter. "If we add medians on West Main, we'd have to get TDOT's permission for one," Cleary said. Members described long concrete medians on New Shackle Island Road that currently lack soil and irrigation; staff said bringing in soil and paying for initial establishment would likely require a budget allocation and plans for early watering while plant roots establish.

Public‑safety and maintenance tradeoffs were raised: medians and planters can reduce unsafe left turns, but members warned about sight‑line obstruction at some intersections and the risk of vehicles striking large planters. Committee members suggested starting with lower‑maintenance plantings where watering is difficult and prioritizing sections where new development is reinvesting in the corridor.

Welcome signage and bridge art: The committee discussed multiple approaches to marking city entrances, including masonry or sculptural treatments on large bridge walls, murals (cheaper short term but higher maintenance), and a tasteful digital sign or small water feature near an entry point. Cleary said the city's "Beautiful Hendersonville" volunteers have been looking at entrance treatments and asked for guidance on whether the committee preferred murals, masonry, sculpture or other approaches. Committee members cautioned that work on bridges or state right of way likely will require TDOT review and that murals require ongoing maintenance and frequent repainting.

Decorative subdivision street signs: Committee members reviewed an ongoing dispute in Mansker's Farms and other subdivisions where developer‑installed decorative sign panels and poles are now fading and not compatible with the city's current standard, reflective sign size and mounting requirements. Staff explained the city typically replaces street signs with the current standard (green with white border) and that homeowners associations (HOAs) that want decorative signs would need to pay for those signs and any nonstandard poles. One council member said an HOA estimate to replace poles in one neighborhood exceeded $50,000; members agreed city policy should be consistent and that decorative signs remain the HOA's expense.

Procedural actions: The committee took two routine procedural actions: it voted to accept the meeting agenda and to approve minutes from Nov. 12 and Nov. 26. Both actions were approved by voice vote; the transcript does not record a roll‑call tally.

What comes next: Cleary and staff said they will follow up with Timothy (city staff) to research whether the tree‑bank ordinance can be amended to fund median landscaping and to gather information about TDOT permitting, soil costs, initial watering and likely budget impacts. The committee asked staff to prioritize New Shackle Island Road and West Main Street for further study and to return estimates and draft ordinance language or budget options at a future meeting.

Quotes in this article come from committee members and staff during the Jan. 14 General Committee meeting.