Belle Meade Highlands Design and Mobility Study

These sites greatly contribute to Nashville’s recreation and outdoor space network and represent immense historic, environmental, and economic value. While they have been popular destinations for many decades, these sites have experienced a surge in visitor traffic in recent years, compounded by Nashville’s tourism boom and the swell of park usage during the COVID-19 pandemic. This surge has resulted in increased vehicle traffic and spillover parking, impacting residential streets and the safety of pedestrians and cyclists.

About the Project

Interactive Map of Belle Meade Highlands Study Area

Metro Nashville Planning is working with a consultant group to conduct a comprehensive mobility and placemaking study of Belle Meade Highlands and offer recommendations for a transportation demand management strategy that encourages multi-mobility.

The study area is bound by Belle Meade Plantation to the north, Highway 70/100 commercial corridor to the west, the City of Belle Meade to the east, and Old Hickory Boulevard to the south.

The consultant group will work with the community to develop a vision framework for Belle Meade Highlands that considers environmentally, culturally, and historically sensitive resources. This project will result in recommendations for transportation priorities, addressing the experience and concerns of pedestrian, cyclists, and transit riders within the study area. It will also identify improvements in stormwater, pedestrian infrastructure, wayfinding, and parking.

September 10 Open House

The Nashville Planning Department and consultant Kimley-Horn hosted an open house at the Warner Park Golf Course Pavilion to provide an update on key findings from the study. 160+ community members attended. Highlights of the analysis can be found by accessing the links below and include the following information:

• Best practices of peer institutions
• Existing Conditions and analysis
• Prior community feedback

You can view the presentation boards below:

• September 10 Presentation Board: Best practices
• September 10 Presentation Board: Findings of fact
• September 10 Presentation Board: What we heard

December 17 Open House

The Nashville Planning Department and consultant Kimley-Horn hosted an open house at Brook Hollow Baptist Church to share the study’s findings and recommendations. 90 community members attended. You can view the presentation below:

Belle Meade Highlands Findings and Recommendations

January 9 Metro Planning Commission Vote

Metro Planning Commission voted on Thursday, January 9 to adopt the Belle Meade Highlands Design and Mobility Study Implementation Plan, including proposed recommendations, conditions, and progressive performance benchmarks, for any new parking agreements between Cheekwood and Metro Parks. As part of that vote, MPC has directed Planning staff to coordinate with applicable bodies, including Metro Parks Board, Metro Parks Staff, NDOT, the City of Belle Meade, and Cheekwood to effectuate the recommendations and provisions of the implementation plan. Lastly MPC directed applicable bodies find a public interest in the establishment of a shared State Route 100 (SR 100) access near the northern portion of the Percy Warner Park property.

The associated staff report, which contains the Implementation Plan Summary and Recommendations, can be found here: Belle Meade Highlands Design and Mobility Study Implementation Plan Staff Report

Coverage of that meeting can be found here (timestamped at the beginning of the presentation of the staff report): Planning Commission Meeting Video, January 9. 2025

This is an information presentation from Planning staff to the Metro Parks and Recreation Board related to the study’s Implementation Plan, which will enable parties to proceed with plans for a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) based on the Implementation Plan’s recommendations. Metro Parks and NDOT will then work to further analyze and evaluate the recommended Highway 100 road access for feasibility and public safety.

[email protected]

Other:

• General Questions: Eric Matravers, 615-862-7205, [email protected]
• General Questions: Harriett Brooks, 615-862-7193, [email protected]
• Media Inquiries: Richel Albright, 615-862-7192, [email protected]
• ADA Accommodations: Randi Semrick, 615-862-7230, [email protected]