Different Rules for the Wealthy

from the blog Enclave June 21, 2009 (at http://enclave-nashville.blogspot.com/)


"The Mays Want to Bring High Density to Bells Bend While Attempting to Switch Their Own Street to Lower Density

Irony of local developers' ironies: the very same night this week that the May Town Center proposal is up before the Planning Commission once again for public hearing, CM Jason Holleman brings a request to the Commission by approximately 2 dozen Enworth Place and Ensworth Avenue property owners to change their current low-density zoning to even lower density. Two of those residents are Frank and Leon May, who reside on Ensworth Place, and who are the would-be catalysts of May Town Center sprawl across Bells Bend.

The existing zoning at Ensworth Place and Ensworth Avenue allows single-family homes and duplexes on a minimum of 40,000 sq. ft. lots. The proposed zoning that the Mays are advocating--for parcels on which their own homes and those of their immediate neighbors sit--would eliminate duplexes from the formula and reduce density to .93 dwelling units per acre on a minimum 40,000 sq. ft. lot. They seem to want to keep developers in check where they live.
Metro Planning staffers are once again siding with the May family in a zoning proposal but for entirely different reasons this time around. This time they intend to protect the current character of the area by selectively applying this rationale:

This 48 acre area is an established, low density residential

development with predominantly single-family residences.

Keep in mind that a little later on Thursday evening's agenda, the Commission will be discussing the planners' endorsement of the May family's attempt to convert historic, lowest-density farmland into high-density, urban, multi-use, car-cultured development of substantially more than .93 units per acre. I guess protecting the character of Bells Bend doesn't matter quite as much to Metro Planning since the Mays don't live there.

However, I doubt that any Metro planner will be considering the inconsistencies of the evening. They'll no doubt see it as all part of the big plan."

[if you are not familiar with "Enclave: Nashville North-by-Northwest" check it out. There have been many thoughtful posts about the MTC and planning (or the lack thereof) in Nashville generally. -- SLC]