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Council weighs replacing Design Review Committee with Plan Commission and Board of Appeals
Summary
Nashville councilmembers debated whether to restructure the town's Design Review Committee into a Plan Commission and Board of Appeals under a Unified Development Ordinance, citing enforcement challenges and the possible use of outside consultants to manage reviews.
The Nashville Town Council discussed restructuring the town's Design Review Committee (DRC) into a more conventional planning body during a January 15 planning session. President Andi Wilson called the meeting to order at 5:11 PM; councilmembers said the current DRC model raises enforcement and consistency concerns and may not align with long-term planning goals.
Councilmembers and staff outlined a possible shift toward a Plan Commission with a separate Board of Appeals operating under a Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). Supporters said the UDO approach could clarify standards, centralize land-use rules, and provide a clearer appeals path. Council members also flagged capacity limits and suggested the town could use consultants to handle technical reviews or supplemental staff work while a new structure is developed.
The council did not take a formal vote. Next steps discussed included scoping a UDO draft, assessing consultant costs, and scheduling follow-up work to evaluate how a Plan Commission and appeals board would operate within existing town procedures.
