THE CASE AGAINST REZONING
Reasons why this application should be denied.
IT'S NOT SAFE
Cato Rd is not a well-designed street for heavy traffic
Adding 1200+ new townhouses would put a thousand or more vehicles on Cato Rd. per day. Cato Rd is regularly used by pedestrians, pets and cyclists. With no shoulder, several blind turns, and a middle school - thousands more vehicles using Cato Rd will be a dangerous situation.
RADICAL DEPARTURE FROM COMMUNITY CHARACTER MANUAL FOR OUR AREA
Whites Creek / Bordeaux Community plan makes it clear that RM-4 is out of character for this community.
"The Community Character Manual (CCM) is the dictionary of Community Character Policies that are applied to every property in each community. The CCM has three main functions: to explain and institute the Community Character Policies; to provide direction for the creation of implementation tools such as zoning; and to shape the form and character of open space, neighborhoods, centers, corridors, and districts within communities" (CCM)
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"A T2 Rural Transect category provides living and working options, differentiated from suburban and urban categories, offering residents the choice of seclusion within the countryside."
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"The impact of land subdivision, land development,and intensification of activities in T2 Rural can impact the region’s resources and health and well-being. As such, the maintenance of a harmonious development pattern, preservation of prime agricultural lands, and the conservation of sensitive environmental resources and rural character is the key focus of any T2 Rural development. With this in mind, the policy areas within T2 Rural aim to protect and preserve rural character and sensitive environmental resources."
(next_vol3_CCM-T2_Amended2017.pdf, p.105)
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VIOLATES THE CONSERVATION OVERLAY
CO provides protection of natural resources
There is a Conservation Overlay on the property as well, protecting natural resources from development.
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"Conservation (CO) - intended to preserve environmentally sensitive land and features through protection and remediation.... CO policy identifies land with sensitive environmental features including, but not limited to, steep slopes, floodway/floodplains, rare or special plant or animal habitats, wetlands, and unstable or problem soils."
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For example, Eaton's Creek runs through the property and the creek and pond are considered "Waters Of The State."
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WE, THE PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY SPOKEN.
Years of community participation and planning should matter.
Adopted in 2017 after nearly 10 years of community involvement, Nashville outlined the next 20 years of development for the County. In doing so, the community agreed that our area's natural setting should be maintained, designating it as a T2-Rural Maintenance Transect.
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The rezoning question should be deferred for at least another 10 years and incorporated into the next long range plan for Nashville.
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The people have already spoken. The Estate of James Overby should not be allowed to override the already expressed will of the people of Davidson County, and the residents of the neighborhood most affected by the rezoning.
PROPOSED SUBDIVISION IS INAPPROPRIATE
From the Whites Creek / Bordeaux Community Character Policy
T2 Rural Maintenance is "intended to maintain rural character as a permanent choice for living within Davidson County and not as a holding or transitional zone for future development."
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"...the intent is for sewer services or higher density zoning or development not be expanded."
MANY OTHER OPTIONS EXIST TO DEVELOP AND MAXIMIZE BENEFIT.
RM-4 is not the only way
Everyone should be able to maximize the return of their efforts, within the constraints that society puts on all of us. As stated above, we have already carved out the constraints for us to grow within.
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There are many other ways that development of this property both economically develop District 1. and preserve the rural character mandated by the will of the people. Subdividing the 290 acres into 2 acre parcels and retaining the current zoning could means potentially dozens of new home sites and incredible profit for the beneficiaries of Mr. Overby's estate.. Marketing the property to agricultural businesses is another.. How much Hemp could be grown here? Subdividing into 10 or 20 acre estates is another. RM-4 stretches too far and should be rejected.