5000 Ashland City Hwy will keep agricultural zoning.
At the July 15th Metro Council meeting, District 1 Councilmember Joy Kimbrough withdrew the rezoning bill for 5000 Ashland City Hwy. The bill would have allowed to site to attain Specific Plan zoning to accomodate the industrial dump truck parking lot.
In a previous meeting on July 1st, many other councilmembers voiced their plan to vote NO on the bill, noting the Planning Commission’s unanimous vote AGAINST the rezoning. Councilmember Sandy Ewing (District 34) spoke to the value of the conservation area, stating,
“When we have a natural, biodiversity corridor in place, it is at our peril to tamper with that. There are reasons we have this type of zoning. This is why our Planning Commission voted 6-0 to not approve this. They don’t do that lightly.”
She continued,
“I believe we have plenty of examples throughout this country of green spaces being destroyed because we have not taken care to be good stewards of them.”
Many members of the community lined up to speak on their stance for the rezoning. Eventually the vote was deferred. We returned on July 15th to repeat points and make new ones. At that time we learned the bill was to be withdrawn.
Now the case will return to environmental court where it will be decided what will happen with the site at 5000 Ashland City Hwy.
Watch the full 7/15/2025 council meeting here.
Watch the full 07/01/2025 council meeting here.