The City of Oak Hill was founded in 1952, just after the end of World War II. At the time, Nashville was experiencing a significant increase in population, and the founders of Oak Hill believed preserving the rich natural heritage, and residential character of the area, should be at the forefront of every local decision. Recent elections and new stricter ordinances have reinforced this purpose. Oak Hill zoning regulations prohibit businesses from operating within city limits, and churches and schools are only allowed to operate under conditional use permits, solely granted by members of the Board of Zoning Appeals, who are appointed by the Mayor.

Seventy years later, the founding principles of our community are being assaulted by First Presbyterian Church and Oak Hill School. They are quietly advancing a plan to construct a massive artificial turf stadium abutting Tyne Blvd, at the southwest corner of their property, that completely disregards local zoning ordinances, setback rules and tree ordinances. Their plan calls for clearcutting nearly four acres of old growth trees that predate the construction of Radnor Lake. 

The large multi-purpose stadium will sit just 90 feet from Tyne Blvd, closer than any other home or facility is permitted to be built along Oak Hill’s beautiful residential corridor. The non-conforming stadium development will also bring with it amplified noise, light pollution, parking issues and myriad safety issues for neighbors, residents, students, parents and churchgoers. Traffic along an already congested Tyne Blvd. will skyrocket during practice and scheduled competitions. 

In 2019, after a number of good faith stakeholder discussions, the City of Oak Hill approved a change to the church’s conditional use permit to allow every proposed addition, including the multi-purpose stadium on the site of the current soccer field. The neighborhood fully supports providing the school, church, community and children with additional athletic facilities, and that’s why we supported the 2019 plan, which achieves everything the school and church want. The major difference is that the original plan the community supported did not require the destruction of old growth trees, would be much less invasive to neighbors and would not permanently damage the character of Tyne Blvd. 

With minimal notification to impacted neighbors, First Presbyterian Church and Oak Hill School are now promoting a new plan to our appointed officials that they know is opposed by many Tyne Blvd neighbors, and runs afoul of existing zoning law. 

The church has confirmed that they departed from the earlier plan because they know the Tyne Blvd. site is the cheaper location to develop. This economic decision has no regard for the preservation of our residential character, the protection of majestic trees or the safety and quality of life of surrounding property owners. Under published rules of the Board of Zoning Appeals, taxpaying residents of Oak Hill are not allowed to use lower costs as grounds for seeking a zoning variance. Furthermore, taxpaying homeowners are not allowed to clear cut trees within setback areas.

This is no way to treat thy neighbor, so Tyne Blvd and Oak Hill neighbors are calling on all concerned citizens of Oak Hill to raise your voices in opposition. Please sign our petition and tell the City of Oak Hill, First Presbyterian Church and Oak Hill School to “STOP THE OAK HILL STADIUM and PRESERVE TYNE BLVD!”