Council approves 119-unit Nolensville Pike rezoning; planning commissioncondition on sidewalk connection removed

On Oct. 21, 2025, the Metropolitan Council approved an SP rezoning for property at 6309 Nolensville Pike to allow a 119-unit multifamily development (ordinance BL2025-1036) and passed a companion ordinance restricting certain materials in construction (BL2025-1037).

Councilman Erik Cortez, the sponsor, moved an amendment (Amendment 1) that removed a narrow pedestrian-connection requirement recommended by the Planning Commission. Planning Department staff told the council that the Planning Commission's recommendation included a condition requiring sidewalks from the new development to connect to existing sidewalks on the neighboring property; removing that condition meant the Planning Commission's recommendation would be reversed and the bill would be recorded as disapproved by the Planning Commission.

Planning Department planner Bob Lehman explained the commission's rationale: "There was a condition added to this recommendation that required a connection from this development to the neighboring property... the planning commission recommended that sidewalks in this development connect to the existing sidewalks, and there's a condition to that effect." That clarification was read into the record before the council voted.

Sponsor Cortez told councilmembers the sidewalk connection had been removed as a concession to neighboring residents concerned that a connection would invite off-site parking and traffic into their streets. "There was a concern with the community that... there would be people visitors parking in the community and then taking up space on their street... We felt it was a small concession to get the project done," Cortez said.

Council procedures: because the sponsor removed a commission condition, the clerk and chair noted that the ordinance was technically recorded as "disapproved" by the Planning Commission and required a roll-call threshold of 27 votes; the council proceeded to a roll-call vote. The clerk recorded the vote for BL2025-1036 as 37 in favor, 0 no, 0 abstaining; BL2025-1037 (the companion restriction ordinance) passed subsequently on voice vote.

Outcome and implications: both ordinances passed their third and final readings. The developer may proceed under the SP district approvals as adopted by the council; the Planning Commission's requested pedestrian connection will not be required under the council-approved version. Planning staff noted that another amendment (Amendment 2) proposing a gated entry would have required further review by the Planning Commission but was not advanced by the sponsor.

Provenance (selected transcript excerpts): "This is an ordinance to amend title 17... changing from a r2a to SP zoning for property located at 6309 Nolensville Pike... 9.9 acres to permit 119 multifamily residential units." (introduction)

"There was a condition added to this recommendation that required a connection from this development to the neighboring property... removing that condition would go against the planning commission recommendation and result in a disapproved bill." — Bob Lehman, Planning Department (planning clarification)

"There was a concern with the community... visitors parking in the community and then taking up space on their street... we felt it was a small concession to get this project done." — Councilman Cortez (sponsor)