Planning board recommends denial of Braswell conditional rezoning at 505 South Austin

The Town of Nashville Planning Board on Feb. 24 voted to recommend denial of a conditional rezoning request for 505 South Austin Street, a property owned by Braswell interests, after residents urged the board to preserve the neighborhood’s residential character.

Staff had presented CZRZ202602 as a conditional rezoning from R‑10 to nonresidential B‑1 limited to professional office use and read a letter from the applicant, Ronald S. Trey Braswell III, saying he intended to keep the house’s residential appearance and to landscape and screen the property. The town’s Technical Review Committee recommended approval and staff proposed several conditions, including an approved site plan, limits on allowed uses to professional office/financial services, no expansion of the driveway, and a vegetative buffer or fenced screen adjacent to 103 East Green Street.

Neighbors who spoke at the public hearing said the block was purchased and maintained as residential and that rezoning even a single parcel risks encouraging more commercial conversions. “We all feel this should remain residential,” said Bill Koenig, a nearby homeowner, citing purchases made with the expectation of a residential neighborhood. James Baker, who lives at 103 East Green Street, described years of vacancy and nuisance issues at the subject property and said the community did not want the block’s character to change.

Board members asked staff about parking and the fence. Staff said the existing driveway accommodates about three cars and that staff would ask the applicant to designate 10 parking spaces (with nine as the minimum) on the applicant’s nearby lot if rezoning were approved; staff also recommended a continuous white vinyl fence or equivalent screening where appropriate.

Despite the staff and TRC recommendation to approve with conditions, a board motion to deny the conditional rezoning passed; under the town’s process the planning board’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Town Council, which has final authority. Staff noted a written statement of consistency/reasons for denial will accompany the referral to council.

Next steps: The planning board’s advisory denial will be placed on the Town Council agenda for final action; staff asked neighbors to attend the council hearing to comment.