For the last 40 years the Scottsboro/Bells Bend community has worked to maintain its rural identity and maintain green space for the city of Nashville.

It is bookended by Bells Bend Park and Beaman Park. Over the years, the community has defeated a planned garbage dump in the area, secured Bells Bend Park, developed a community plan, defeated May Town, and worked with Nashville Next to be included in the green space of the city. The residents have come together to keep the area as a green resource for the city.

Then along came Walker Trucking.

After being defeated by citizens in Ashland City on a proposed trucking project there and suing the citizens who spoke out and stopped that effort, Walker Trucking invaded the Bells Bend community. They bought land on 5000 Ashland City Highway, proposed sheds for farming equipment, but built no sheds for such equipment. There has been no farming equipment visible on the property. Instead, they built a dump truck parking lot without seeking a zoning variance.

They established an industrial operation in a conservation district zoned AR-2A.

Here’s what happened next:

• The community notified Metro Codes. Walker Trucking was issued six Code violations.

• A stop work order was issued for June 2024. The trucks kept rolling. Metro sued Walker trucking.

• On Feb. 25, 2025, the Environmental Court ordered the operation to cease except for refueling from 4:00-6:00 p.m.

• Tom White argued to the court that even though they were mea culpa on all the issues, it was okay because the Council person for District One supported their SP for the area. He then read a letter to the Court from Councilperson Joy Kimbrough supporting the SP.

• The Court maintained the stop work order except for refueling and indicated it would wait for the actions of the Planning Commission and Metro Council to close the case.

• The Planning Commission met recently and heard Walker Trucking’s position. There was overwhelming community opposition. (Two community meetings had been held in which the opposition was made clear to the Councilmember Kimbrough).

By a unanimous vote, the Planning Commission denied the SP request by Walker Trucking. 

At this point, Metro Codes, Metro Court, and the Planning Commission are in agreement with the Bells Bend & Scottsboro community: The property should not be rezoned.

Councilmember Kimbrough is bringing the matter for a vote in Metro Council. The first reading is Tuesday, June 3rd with a public hearing July 1st.

The community would appreciate the support of Council members on this matter in opposition to the request and not yield to councilmanic courtesy.

For reasons unclear to us, Councilmember Kimbrough, who ran on a position of doing what the community desires, is siding with a major violator of the community plan. The Metro Courts and the Planning Commission thoroughly reviewed this matter and their decisions should prevail.

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Our neighboring Districts

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District 2: Kyonzté Toombs kyonzte.toombs@nashville.gov

District 3: Jennifer Gamble Jennifer.Gamble@nashville.gov

District 10: Jennifer Frensley Webb Jennifer.Webb@nashville.gov

District 20: Rollin Horton Rollin.Horton@nashville.gov

District 21: Brandon Taylor Brandon.Taylor@nashville.gov

District 35: Jason Spain Jason.Spain@nashville.gov