Planning Department Staff Directory

The purpose of the Land Development Program is to provide design expertise, professional planning advice, and policy and regulatory tools and techniques to decision-makers, developers, and the general public so they can have the information and regulatory framework to implement and apply the principles of sustainable development consistent with the community’s vision established in the General Plan.

Land Development planners review subdivisions, rezonings, and other applications related to the zoning code, guide applicants through the development process, and write staff reports advising the Planning Commission. The Development Finance Officer processes performance bonds and letters of credit. The front counter accepts applications and answers zoning and subdivision questions.

Plan Review

Customer Service

Design and Inspections

Design Studio

The Design Studio administers the Planning Department’s form-based codes including the Downtown Code, and several Urban Design Overlays. The Design Studio also supports other teams and stakeholders with design analysis, community engagement and facilitations, development of planning studies and plan amendments, design of innovative zoning tools, design research, and the creation of graphically compelling documents, publications, and web-tools.

Planners in the Long Range Planning Division work across disciplines to implement the city's vision. Developing community and neighborhood plans and implementation strategies necessary to achieve comprehensive sustainable development. There are three sections: Community Plans, Project Management and Advanced Planning & Research.

Community Plans

The purpose of the Community Plans section is to develop sustainable community and neighborhood plans and implementation strategies necessary to achieve comprehensive sustainable development.

The Project Management section coordinates a wide variety of interdisciplinary plans and studies across the Planning Department often in conjunction with other Metro departments. The range of projects includes everything from small area master plans and site feasibility studies to zoning code assessments and the development of new analytical tools.

Advanced Planning and Research

The Advanced Planning & Research section leads the Planning Commission’s role in assembling the annual Capital Improvements Budget and developing priorities based on Nashville’s General Plan. The section also supports coordination and planning among departments responsible for capital projects.

Housing Division

The purpose of the Housing Program is to provide leadership on comprehensive city-wide housing strategies and policy development and coordinate the implementation and management of recommended programs and initiatives to address Nashville's housing needs, especially for persons experiencing housing insecurity and that facilitate the creation and preservation of affordable and workforce housing.

Our MetroGIS division generates, organizes, and analyzes spatial data, creates maps, and provides information about our county’s physical structure for other Metro departments and the general public. GIS (an abbreviation of "Geographic Information Systems") is a system of hardware and software used for storage, retrieval, mapping, and analysis of geographic data. GIS provides a better understanding of our county's physical attributes and supports more informed decisions about land use and development.

AICP

Several of our planners, as noted in their individual listings, have earned what the American Planning Association calls "a high mark of distinction" in the planning profession - membership in the American Institute of Certified Planners. AICP certification is awarded to planners who pass a rigorous examination covering the history and theory of planning, urban design, law, ethics, and quantitative methods as well as have professional experience working as a planner.

CNU-A

The Congress for the New Urbanism's accreditation program is based on the principles of the Charter of the New Urbanism. The program's aim is to spread and elevate best practices; recognize the talent and commitment on display within the movement to create walkable, sustainable places; and establish New Urbanism as the standard for leaders working to build better places. CNU accreditation is achieved through completion of a comprehensive examination.

PLA

The American Society of Landscape Architects designation applies to individuals licensed in a U.S. state to practice landscape architecture.

LEED

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design's advanced credentialing program ensures that professionals have the knowledge they need to take a project through LEED certification for buildings and are well versed in the many aspects of green building. Individuals have passed a comprehensive exam and have involvement on a project registered/certified for LEED.

CPM

Tennessee’s Certified Public Manager program, based in the Naifeh Center for Effective Leadership, strives to provide an in-depth, comprehensive, competency-based, nationally certified development program for all managers from state and local government organizations, universities, and those from business and industry who desire this training and certification.