Please sign the petition if you are OPPOSED to AJ Capital’s current redevelopment plan for Belle Meade Plaza.

Here’s why we’re opposed —

Zoning. BMP is currently 0% residential but would flip to 91.5% residential under this SP (Specific Plan) proposal. Current MUL (Mixed Use Limited) zoning already allows for everything the developer seeks in terms of residential, retail and a hotel. SP zoning would allow AJ Capital to develop much bigger and taller buildings.

Density. The existing site measures 458,858 sq. ft., or 10.53 acres. Currently, the Gross Building Area (GBA) is 206,434 sq. ft; the rezoning proposal would move that GBA number to 880,000 sq. ft., or a 426% increase from how BMP is currently used today. 

Traffic. Traffic design should precede development. There needs to be a thorough and unbiased traffic study that takes into account the BMP proposal and other proposed projects in the area being considered.

Retail. The rezoning proposal cites a maximum of 75,000 sq. ft. for retail (restaurants, services, retail, and offices). This is a 63.7% reduction from current retail and underscores this project’s reliance on residential to maximize financial gain at the expense of the very neighborhoods this parcel currently serves. 

Parking. The development as currently proposed appears to be severely under-parked.

Decontextualization. Belle Meade Plaza does not exist in a vacuum. AJ Capital’s plan — whether MUL or SP — has to be considered in relationship to other developments under consideration in the area. 

Building height. The height of the four proposed towers does not keep with the residential character of the neighborhood and is far higher than any nearby developments. It will set a precedent for height that the neighborhood does not desire.

Additional concerns:

• The health and preservation of Sugartree Creek, Richland Creek and the surrounding land.
• Stormwater runoff and the effects of flooding to the area.
  Portions of the property are located in FEMA’s floodway and floodplain.
• The increased pressure the City of Nashville already faces to repair and upgrade its aging water and sewer system.
• The potential damage to nearby residential and commercial properties and the creeks’ ecosystems due to blasting.
• The massive disruption during construction and ongoing noise pollution post-construction.
• The fate of current tenants, most of which are locally owned and operated.
• The effects on the CSX line paralleling the proposed development.
• The lack of community-inspired architectural renderings.
• The increased pressure on first responders to be responsible for a dramatic increase in households and hotel guests while simultaneously increasing difficulty for emergency vehicles to get through gridlock.

We want thoughtful, community-informed development that leaves us with spaces that reinforce the heart of this area: Community.

Email NOsp4bmp@gmail.com to get project updates, links to helpful resources, and upcoming events and action items.  

*NOTE: We have formed an LLC called Neighbors for Nashville to negotiate conditions for this development. We've been working with a lawyer to argue our case. Financial contributions are critical to keeping our attorney on retainer. Contributions can be sent by Venmoing @or by check at:

 

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