Mayor's Office Contact Information
Address
Historic Metro Courthouse
1 Public Square
Nashville,
TN
37201
Phone
Initial Commitment
Direct Metro Parks, Public Works and Water Services to work together to expand green infrastructure such as retention ponds and bioswales. (Policy Platform, page 46)
Status
Commitment Met
Most Recent Update (Summer 2022)
Mayor Cooper and Metro Council have moved legislation providing protections for trees on public property. Adopted legislation directs that trees on public property should be managed as an asset, with regular progress reports, and designates a review panel to consider all large-scale removal of trees on Metro property and oversee robust replacement standards (20% more trees than similar private projects).
Mayor Cooper has also created a dedicated revenue stream to support tree canopy restoration and maintenance on private properties, setting aside a percentage-equivalent of proceeds from Metro building permits, grading permits, and bond-funded construction revenues for the purpose of fully funding the Root Nashville campaign to plant 500,000 trees by 2050. Trees are a form of green infrastructure that can help to manage stormwater.
In 2021 Metro Water Services released a Low Impact Development volume as part of its Stormwater Management Manual, which details low impact development models and green infrastructure practices.
The Sustainability Advisory Committee, the Chief Sustainability and Resilience Officer, and relevant departments (Metro Water Services, Parks & Recreation, and NDOT) continue to evaluate opportunities for deploying green infrastructure within their operations and in the community.
Previous Update (Fall 2021)
"Mayor Cooper's 48-member Sustainability Advisory Committee (SAC) submitted policy and investment recommendations related to preservation of natural resources, expansion of urban tree canopy, new standards for Green Streets, and improving support for biodiversity on Metro Parks-owned lands. These recommendations were published with Climate Action and Adaptation Plans to fulfill Metro’s requirements under Mayor Cooper’s renewed commitment to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy. The Global Covenant is the world’s largest cooperative effort among mayors and city officials to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, track progress, and prepare for the impacts of climate change.
Metro Parks, Public Works (now NDOT), and Metro Water Services (MWS) have each made enormous strides implementing sustainable practices and deploying green infrastructure. MWS is currently installing three major solar panel installations, including 9,777 individual solar panels over 7 acres in large-scale photovoltaic solar facilities at MWS’s Central, Whites Creek, and Omohundro treatment plants. The panels will generate 3.2 megawatts of power, achieving carbon emissions reductions equivalent to removing 600 vehicles from the road or the equivalent of powering 500 homes. The Stormwater division has implemented development incentives for the installation of green roofs and pervious pavement, and green infrastructure is now generally required on development projects. Metro Parks continues to work with MWS, NDOT and other Metro agencies for opportunities to expand green infrastructure. (Example: Kossie Garner, Sr. park)
Metro’s Low Impact Development Manual (LID) for new development and redevelopment projects has increased water quality credits for green roofs by 50% (increasing their utilization), and green infrastructure waivers are no longer issued in combined-sewer areas of Nashville. MWS has also constructed a variety of green infrastructure projects alone and in conjunction with the Water Quality Improvement Project, including impermeable pavement removal, rain garden construction, and linear parks."