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Council approves Vanderbilt 'Innovation Neighborhood' on second reading after new concessions
Summary
After two years of neighborhood engagement, Vanderbilt's 43-acre Innovation Neighborhood SP passed second reading with sponsor amendments reducing some heights, adding construction protections, traffic funding and an advisory committee. Neighbors pressed for firmer, enforceable commitments before third reading.
The Metropolitan Council on Aug. 4 approved the second reading of Vanderbilt University's Innovation Neighborhood specific plan after the sponsor won a package of amendments intended to address neighborhood concerns. Supporters including Evan Cathy, speaking for Vanderbilt, said the plan would convert surface parking into a mixed-use hub with housing, retail and a linear park and stressed that the amendment package negotiated with neighbors “makes the bill better.”
Opponents urged the council to cap heights and secure enforceable funding and timing for promised infrastructure. Ginger Hauser, a neighborhood negotiator, warned that the plan as proposed could permit towers “up to 475 feet, 35 stories” and urged a reduction in scale. Sponsor Councilmember Tom Cash said the amendments reduce heights (feet-based limits rather than stories), add a 15-year traffic-calming fund, construction protections and an advisory committee to keep ongoing community oversight.
"This amendment has a lot of good stuff there on construction and communication," Councilmember Tom Cash said when describing the concessions his amendment added to the SP. The council approved the amended plan on second reading and deferred final (third) reading to the September 1 meeting, giving staff and neighbors time to finalize outstanding language and any pending proposals.
