Commission defers residential permit parking request for Tenth and Eleventh avenues after public testimony from Music Row

The Metro Nashville Traffic & Parking Commission on a voice vote deferred for one month a request to authorize residential permit parking on Tenth Avenue North and Eleventh Avenue North between Coffee Street and Buchanan Street, effective 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily.

The request, filed by Councilman Brandon Taylor (Council District 21), sought permit parking to limit nonresident parking tied to nearby nightclubs and event activity. Taylor told the commission he has worked on the issue for nearly a decade and said emergency vehicles have sometimes been blocked from the streets. "We continue to have events...the best way to find relief for the community members is to limit the parking," Taylor said during the public-comment portion and again when the item was considered on the agenda.

Why it matters: Neighbors said curbspace is being used by venue patrons, musicians and students, and that parking congestion has produced quality-of-life and safety concerns for residents. Business and music-industry speakers warned paid parking would harm small music businesses and the many songwriters who use facilities in Music Row.

Public comment at the commission meeting included a petition presented by Dave Pomeroy, president of the Nashville Musicians Association, who said the union and many Music Row businesses had not been adequately consulted and warned that broad paid parking would damage the local music ecosystem. Jay Verne, a Music Row business owner, and Jill Moody of the Nashville Songwriters Association said fees would discourage songwriters from using studio and rehearsal space. By contrast, one commenter who identified himself as Mannenhall argued the proposed managed paid parking would be affordable and would reduce cruising and congestion.

NDOT staff recommended the deferral. Emmanuel Matias of the Nashville Department of Transportation told the commission NDOT supports the request in concept but asked for a deferral so staff can provide additional analysis. Commissioners asked staff to return with concrete data on the number of curb spaces affected, whether parking would be allowed on one or both sides of the street, how nearby permit zones might interact and whether the petition thresholds in the municipal code have been met. One commissioner noted the code includes a petition threshold that typically requires strong resident support (the meeting discussion referenced a 75% petition threshold in the process).

What happened procedurally: The commission first moved Item 5.1 from the consent agenda to the regular agenda for discussion. After public comment and staff questions, the commission voted to defer the item for one month so NDOT and the sponsor can provide the petition documentation, utilization and safety analyses, and a clearer implementation plan.

Context and next steps: The petitioner asked for a residential-permit parking (RPP) zone to address late-night parking from nearby entertainment venues and special events (the item text indicated an effective time of 7 p.m.–7 a.m., seven days a week). Commissioners said they want the petition to formalize neighborhood outreach so residents understand trade-offs and exemptions. NDOT said it will return with more analysis at the commission's next meeting.