Public Meetings
The Planning Department will implement the following steps, which will be frequently evaluated as guidance from the CDC evolves.
Metro Planning Commission Meetings to be Held In Person
On July 1, 2021, the Governor’s order allowing electronic public meetings ended, the Planning Commission will hold regularly scheduled Planning Commission Meetings in person.
In-person Planning Commission meetings will be held at the Sonny West Conference Center at 4 p.m. on the date of the meeting. In compliance with Metro Health guidelines, unvaccinated members of the public attending in person will be encouraged to wear masks inside. The Conference Center will be laid out to ensure social distancing, to the best of our ability. Because of space limitations, Sonny West may be limited to people with an interest in the case currently being heard. If needed, the public will have a waiting room in the first floor lobby of the Howard Office Building. Staff will be available to guide the public to the appropriate location to participate in their public hearing or wait until their public hearing is beginning.
Visit our Public Comment page to send comments before and during the Planning Commission hearing.
The draft agenda will be available in Meeting Documents the Friday before each meeting.
Updates often occur, so please visit this page frequently.
Other Public Meetings
While Staff has mostly resumed in-person public meetings and charettes, as positivity rates change in Davidson County, Planning Staff reserves the right to postpone in-person meetings or move to virtual options out of an abundance of caution for staff and the community. Any rescheduled meetings will be re-noticed per Metro Planning Rules and Procedures. For questions regarding plan amendment meetings, please contact Anita McCaig.
Planning Department Procedures
The Planning Department will update our procedures and precautions regularly to align with the recommendations of public health officials. We will take the following actions to both prevent the spread of COVID-19 and maintain as much continuity to operations as possible:
Flexible Work Stations
While most Planning Staff have returned to in-person work, the Department continues to monitor positivity rates and may elect to provide a flexible schedule for staff that are able to work from home. When necessary, a minimal crew will work during business hours, but engagement with the public will be done by appointment.
Bonds
In order to provide consistent service and security for important financial documents, all submittals related to Bonds will be by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, please contact Bond Officer Michelle Hollingsworth. Michelle will be monitoring emails daily and will be in touch to set up an appointment.
Do not send by mail or drop off any bond related documents without first coordinating with Michelle.
Front Counter
The Metro Planning Department Development Services Center Front Counter no longer requires appointments for in person meetings. However, phone and email consultations are strongly encouraged. If you would like to schedule an appointment, email the Planning Department Front Counter. A staff person will be in contact with you as quickly as possible. Every effort will be made to assist you over the phone or email if possible to minimize the need for face-to-face interactions.
Pre-application meetings
Near term pre-application meetings will be shifted to phone conferences and virtual meetings. If you want to set up a pre-application conference, please complete the Pre-Application Form found on our website and email to [email protected].
Submittal of Revisions for Cases Currently Under Review
If you currently have a case under review and you are ready to submit revisions, please reach out directly to the case reviewer for your project by email to arrange a time to drop off revisions or submit your revisions electronically to the case reviewer. Please note: we will be coordinating with other review agencies to pick up revisions on a limited basis and will send comments as soon as adjusted schedules allow.
Other Submittals
For new submittals, mylar submittals, building permit review, or any other actions requiring payment of a fee, please email the Planning Department Front Counter. A staff person will be in contact to set up an in person meeting.
Administrative Reviews
Staff will continue to accept new submittals for administrative review. To avoid long lines associated with a set submittal deadline, we will only accept new administrative applications on an appointment basis. To schedule an appointment please email the Planning Department Front Counter. A staff person will be in contact with you as quickly as possible.
Staff will review the application to ensure that it is eligible for administrative review and that all necessary items are included before accepting payment or the application. Incomplete applications or applications requiring a public hearing will not be accepted. Administrative cases currently under review will continue to be processed to the best of our ability. Assigned review planners will coordinate with applicants.
Staff will continue to consult with applicants for design reviews, but using electronic methods and by conference call.
Procedures are Subject to Change
The guidelines above are subject to change based on new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, the Metro Nashville Public Health Department, and the Office of the Mayor. Additionally, staff is reviewing additional opportunities to conduct business and public meetings remotely through technology. If workable solutions are found, this guidance may be revised. Staff will make every effort to notify the public and all interested stakeholders.