Gallatin council approves first reading for Foxland Harbor Marina plan amid traffic, safety and scale objections

The Gallatin City Council approved on first reading an ordinance to amend the preliminary master development plan for the Foxland Harbor Marina, a mixed‑use project at Foxland/Fairview on Old Hickory Lake, following more than three hours of public comment and council debate.

The council voted 5–2 to approve the ordinance on first reading. Vice Mayor Hayes moved the measure and Councilman Carter seconded. During the same public discussion the council considered, and rejected, a motion to require a 35‑foot maximum height for commercial buildings in the proposal; that motion failed 5–2.

Supporters said the project completes a long‑standing master plan and would add amenities, slips and tax revenue. A developer representative argued the marina and condominiums are the final phase of a plan first platted in 2007 and intended as part of a high‑amenity lakefront community. Opponents — mostly nearby residents and neighborhood groups — said the proposal is oversized, would worsen congestion at Douglas Bend and Nashville Pike and would increase public‑safety risks on the lake.

The debate highlighted traffic modeling and safety concerns. Tom Lee, a partner at Nelson Mullins representing Friends of Old Hickory Lake, summarized the council’s traffic report, saying, “The traffic study estimates 2,600 new trips each day generated by the Marina development,”…