Metro Clerk

Substitute Bill BL2020-288 (as amended)

An ordinance to amend Section 17.20.120 of the Metropolitan Code related to street trees (Proposal No. 2020Z-009TX-001).

WHEREAS, Nashville’s General Plan, NashvilleNext, provides guidelines by which Metropolitan Nashville grows and develops; and

WHEREAS, an important feature in this growth includes improvements of public spaces, safely walkable access to goods and service throughout the county, and other benefits to residents, neighborhoods, and businesses; and

WHEREAS, beginning July 2017, Metro expanded the strategic framework for sidewalk requirements and has over the last several years focused on improved implementation of sidewalks across Nashville and Davidson County; and

WHEREAS, Metro updated development regulations for tree retention and replacement to increase Nashville’s overall tree canopy, enhance the pedestrian realm, retain stormwater, and beautify Nashville’s developed areas; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 17.20.120 of the Metropolitan Code of Laws, sidewalks are required to be constructed with certain types of development and based on certain locational criteria, including for multi-family and nonresidential development in NashvilleNext centers; and

WHEREAS, requiring street trees to be planted in the furnishing/green zone for sidewalks constructed meeting these criteria will help the Metropolitan Government meet multiple strategic goals.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That Section 17.20.120 of the Metropolitan Code, the Zoning Ordinance for the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, is hereby amended by adding the following provisions as subsection C.2.c:

c. For multi-family and nonresidential development or redevelopment, street trees shall be required within the grass strip/green zone or frontage zone for any sidewalk constructed within a center designated in the general plan.

i. Trees shall be installed according to the provisions of the Metro Nashville Street Tree Specifications prepared and maintained by Metro Water Services in conjunction with Metro Public Works, Planning and Codes.

ii. Street trees shall be chosen from the Urban Forestry Recommended Tree List. Canopy trees shall be installed, except where conflicts with overhead electrical power lines exist. In those instances, understory trees may be substituted.

iii. The owner of the property frontage along which the street trees are installed shall maintain the trees installed per this title according to the provisions of the Metro Nashville Street Tree Specifications. The owner of the property frontage shall execute and record a restrictive covenant agreeing to these maintenance responsibilities.

iv. Required street trees shall be depicted on a landscape plan, which shall be submitted with construction drawings for the sidewalks. The landscape plan and specifications shall be prepared by, or under the direction of, and bear the seal of a professional landscape architect registered in Tennessee.

v. Trees installed pursuant to this section shall be eligible for credit toward the tree density required by Chapter 17.24 of this title

Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect August 3, 2020 and such change be published in a newspaper of general circulation, the welfare of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsor(s)

Angie Henderson, Burkley Allen, Emily Benedict, Sean Parker, Freddie O'Connell, Nancy VanReece, Russ Bradford, Thomas Cash, Ginny Welsch, Tonya Hancock