June 12, 2025

Meeting Overview

The Metro Planning Commission convened for a pivotal public hearing regarding a complex rezoning proposal by SomeraRoad to develop properties at the intersection of Martin Street, Merritt Avenue, and Hamilton Avenue in the heart of Wedgewood Houston. This mixed-use development proposal, which has been under community review for nearly two years, represents a significant investment in the neighborhood's infrastructure and housing stock, featuring both hotel and residential components that would transform the current industrial-zoned properties.

The meeting drew substantial community interest, with residents, business owners, and stakeholders gathering to provide input on a project that has generated both strong support and pointed opposition. The hearing took place against the backdrop of Nashville's ongoing growth and development pressures, with Wedgewood Houston emerging as a key area for transit-oriented development and neighborhood revitalization.

Staff Recommendation

Planning Department Recommendation: APPROVAL with conditions

The Planning Department staff reviewed the project against established land use policies and planning principles, recommending approval based on:

Alignment with the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) guidance
Consistency with area land use policy
Proposed infrastructure investments
Extensive community engagement process over two years

Public Comments

Speakers in Support (7 speakers)

Ken Pontic (1704 Martin Street)

Emphasized critical need for sidewalk installation along Martin Street and Merritt Avenue
Highlighted pedestrian safety concerns and dangerous walking conditions
Referenced recent pedestrian fatality in the area
Stressed importance of proper crosswalks

Earnest Morgan (Merritt Avenue)

Noted two+ years of developer collaboration with the community
Highlighted community petition with 90 resident signatures supporting the project

Jonathan Ruff (Little Hamilton)

Expressed support for the development approach
Noted benefits of moving street parking into the development site to improve traffic flow

Sister Spirit (KK) (Hamilton)

Advocated for economic housing options for healthcare workers and community members
Praised Samara Road for extensive community engagement
Emphasized the need for affordable housing in the area

Alexander Janco (601 Merritt Street)

Commercial property owner supporting the project
Focused on safety benefits and infrastructure improvements
Noted potential WeGo transit stop benefits

Greg Watson (607 A More Avenue)

Highlighted design quality and business sustainability aspects
Emphasized the development's role in maintaining neighborhood character while allowing appropriate growth

Dwayne Cuthbertson (409 Merritt Avenue)

Focused on process and policy compliance
Noted that two-thirds of letters received by Planning Commissioners support the project
Emphasized the importance of reviewing against established policy rather than subjective preferences

Speakers with Concerns/Opposition (3 speakers)

Thomas Ross (1405 Pillow Street)

Adjacent resident with tenant compliance concerns regarding existing gym tenant (BC Block)
Reported ongoing noise violations since February
Expressed concerns about developer's ability to ensure tenant compliance
Also emphasized need for street safety improvements
Noted issues with construction debris and property maintenance

Vince (600 block Hamilton)

Requested proper community discourse and project deferral
Called for additional community meetings to review final submitted plans
Emphasized that residents closest to development should have stronger voice

Resident (542 Hamilton)

Expressed traffic concerns and questions about developer performance
Noted that residents on Hamilton Street rely on alley access
Concerned about increased traffic impact
Asked about coordination with MDOT (state transportation authorities)

Council Member Input

Metro Council Member Terry Vo appeared at the meeting to formally request a deferral, citing three main concerns:

Community Input: Need for more direct input from residents closest to the site, noting that five immediate neighbors were unable to attend due to work commitments
Hotel Size: Disagreement over proposed hotel size, requesting reduction to 125 keys versus developer's economic requirement for 150+ keys for viability
Parking: Request for additional parking spaces beyond what the developer proposed

Planning Commission Discussion

Key Points Raised by Commissioners:

Procedural Concerns:

Commissioners noted this would be the ninth deferral for the project
Expressed frustration with the extended two-year review timeline
Questioned what additional information could realistically be gained from further delays

Policy vs. Politics:

Emphasized importance of reviewing projects against established planning policy rather than political preferences
Noted the difference between technical planning standards and subjective community preferences
Highlighted the professional staff recommendation and technical review process

Parking Clarification:

Commissioners clarified that the land use requirements for this site do not mandate ANY parking spaces
Noted that the developer has voluntarily included parking in the proposal as a community benefit
Explained that the developer is "gifting" these parking spaces to the community

Community Engagement Recognition:

Acknowledged the extensive two-year community engagement process
Noted the developer's multiple plan revisions addressing neighborhood concerns
Recognized both private investment and public infrastructure benefits

Tenant Compliance Discussion:

Some commissioners expressed concern about making zoning decisions based on current tenant behavior
Noted that tenant compliance issues are separate from zoning and development review
Emphasized that zoning decisions should focus on land use compatibility, not operational management

Commission Positions:

Commissioners Supporting Deferral:

Acknowledged Council Member Vo's request for additional community input
Expressed willingness to allow more time for neighborhood dialogue
Noted importance of addressing immediate neighbor concerns

Commissioners Questioning Deferral:

Emphasized the extensive prior engagement and eight previous deferrals
Questioned what substantive new information could be gained
Expressed concern about indefinite process delays
Noted the professional staff recommendation and policy compliance

Infrastructure Improvements:

Proposed sidewalk installation along Martin Street and Merritt Avenue
Traffic safety improvements including crosswalks
Street parking reorganization to improve traffic flow
Potential coordination with Metro transit (WeGo) for bus stop improvements

Community Support Documentation

Quantified Support:

Petition: 90 residents have signed supporting the project
Planning Commission Letters: Two-thirds of letters received by commissioners support the project
Geographic Distribution: Support spans across the broader Wedgewood Houston neighborhood

Participation Challenges:

Five residents living immediately adjacent to the Martin and Merritt location were unable to attend due to career demands
This may have impacted the apparent balance of local opinion at the meeting
Highlights ongoing challenge of ensuring representative community input

Meeting Outcome

After extensive discussion, the Planning Commission voted to DEFER the matter until July 2025, accommodating Council Member Vo's request for additional community dialogue.

Conditions of Deferral:

Additional community meeting to be scheduled before July hearing
Opportunity for final review of submitted plans
Continued dialogue between developer, council member, and immediate neighbors

Key Issues Moving Forward

Unresolved Disputes:

Hotel Size: Core disagreement between 125 keys (council preference) vs. 150+ keys (economic viability requirement)
Parking: Additional parking requests beyond voluntary developer contribution
Immediate Neighbor Input: Ensuring participation from residents closest to the site
Tenant Compliance: Addressing current noise issues and future tenant oversight

Infrastructure Priorities:

Sidewalk installation remains highest community priority
Traffic safety improvements including crosswalks
Coordination with state and metro transportation authorities
Environmental protection for native species and cave systems

Process Considerations:

Balancing extensive community engagement with reasonable project timelines
Maintaining developer economic viability while addressing community concerns
Ensuring representative community participation in decision-making

Next Steps

Before July Hearing:

Community Meeting: CM Vo to host additional neighborhood meeting
Plan Review: Final review of submitted development plans
Stakeholder Dialogue: Continued discussion between key parties
Issue Resolution: Attempt to address outstanding concerns

July Planning Commission Meeting:

Final vote on rezoning proposal
Review of any plan modifications
Consideration of additional conditions
Final recommendation to Metro Council

If Approved:

Referral to Metro Council for final approval
Implementation of infrastructure improvements
Environmental protection measures
Tenant compliance monitoring system

Strategic Context

The meeting highlighted ongoing tensions in Nashville's development review process between:

Technical planning standards vs. political preferences
Private investment vs. community concerns
Economic viability vs. neighborhood character
Process efficiency vs. comprehensive community input

The professional staff recommendation for approval, combined with demonstrated community support, suggests strong technical merit for the project. However, political opposition and immediate neighbor concerns continue to influence the review process.

The July hearing will be critical in determining whether the project can move forward with broad community support or whether fundamental disagreements will require significant modifications to the proposal

To learn more about the Merritt & Martin Project, click here.

Planning Commission | Merritt and Martin Meeting Recap | June 12th