Commission defers 12 South parking package for 60 days after heavy public turnout

The Metro Nashville Traffic & Parking Commission voted to postpone consideration of a bundled package of parking and curb changes for the 12 South commercial corridor for 60 days after extended public comment and a technical presentation from NDOT staff.

Public commenters, including long-time residents and business owners, urged the commission to pause the package and pursue a broader, coordinated plan. "Here's my ask is that we just stop for a second and, and work towards a holistic approach," said Jeremy Barlow, a 12 South resident and local business owner during the public-comment period. Council member Tom Cash told the commission he supported a holistic approach and described the proposed two-hour limits as "a tool" to improve turnover for customers.

NDOT staff said their counts show high curb occupancy and repeated long-stay vehicles. "It peaked at 95%," Brandon Boatzwan of NDOT said of occupancy during peak hours; he added that automated license-plate reads found many vehicles repeatedly present throughout the day. Staff proposed a package that would add timed spaces on 12th Avenue South, designate rideshare pickup/drop-off zones, create loading zones, and place two-hour time-limits on adjacent side streets to increase turnover and clear blocked driveways and loading maneuvers.

Residents and merchants described safety and access problems. Misty Keenan, property manager at Ashwood, gave the commission photos and said delivery trucks and ride-share drop-offs often block alleys and sidewalks and can delay a school bus. Business operators asked for employee-permit options and pointed to private-lot pricing as part of the parking challenge.

Commissioners questioned enforcement capacity and whether free two-hour limits or paid metered parking would better achieve turnover. Several members urged additional outreach and revised options for merchant and resident needs. Commissioner Gibbs moved to defer the package for 60 days, requiring community meetings during that period and asking staff to include discussion of employee parking, loading zones and whether to consider metered (paid) parking as an alternative. The motion passed by voice vote.

NDOT told the commission it would run signage, enforcement and implementation tasks in sequence and return with results or a revised proposal after the community engagement period. The commission asked staff to report back with community survey results and implementation plans at the next scheduled meeting after the deferral.