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Budget hearing brings neighborhood advocate’s future to forefront
Amid growing concern surrounding the fate of neighborhood advocacy in Metro, the future of a self-described “pro-neighborhood” Planning Department employee was unexpectedly called into question at Thursday’s Metro Council budget hearings leaving a number of onlooking members surprised.
Councilman Mike Jameson used the meeting, typically reserved strictly for issues related to a department’s budget, to forcefully question Planning Department Executive Director Rick Bernhardt about the future of David Kleinfelter.
Serving as a manager in the Planning Department, Kleinfelter’s contract is up for renewal at the end of the year.
Jameson pressed Bernhardt, while startled Council members observed from the sidelines, about whether Kleinfelter, who makes $88,000 per year, will have his contract renewed for another two years, or not.
In an interview with the City Paper last week and again at Thursday’s meeting, Bernhardt said no decision has yet been made on Kleinfelter’s future.
Jameson said he views Kleinfelter as a neighborhood advocate in the Planning Department in a climate where Nashville is becoming increasingly more pro-development.
“I find myself being invited to meet with a developer. And when I walk into the room, it’s the developer, his assistants and his legal team and his [public relations] team and his architect and his engineer,” Jameson said. “And I feel like I’m walking into the Treaty at Appomattox. I’m out there alone and I don’t have the slightest information to respond to their specific desires.
“The best we can do is to ask one of your staff members to attend. And I will tell you in five years, the absolute… the best guy to have in the trenches there with you to debate, and yes, sometimes argue, is David.”
Kleinfelter’s position is one where he works to ensure developers are properly following zoning rules and land use plans when they move forward with a project.
“I do consider myself pro-neighborhood,” Kleinfelter said. “I’m all about livable communities.”
Jameson’s line of questions to Bernhardt focused around a specific apartment development off Nolensville Road called Swiss Ridge where a developer agreed to build about 800 feet of sidewalk in conjunction with the project. The developer, Affordable Housing Resources, was working with sidewalk construction company J2K Builders, which is owned by Planning Commission Chair Jim McLean.
Confusion arose as to how much sidewalk was supposed to be built and eventually the minutes to a 2003 Planning Commission meeting were corrected earlier this year to say only 800 feet of sidewalk was needed, according to Bernhardt. Kleinfelter was adamant that the sidewalk needed to be built in conjunction with what was apparently agreed to at the 2003 meeting.
Bernhardt said he was summoned to a meeting in Mayor Karl Dean’s office earlier this month, in which Deputy Mayor Greg Hinote and developer Eddie Latimer were in attendance. Latimer is the CEO of Affordable Housing Resources.
Bernhardt said the topic of the meeting was the development in question and not issues surrounding Kleinfelter, although Kleinfelter’s name did arise at some point in the conversation.
Kleinfelter, himself a former Green Hills Councilman, admits to earning a reputation for being brash in his dealings with developers, who work hand-in-hand with planning on various issues. Jameson believes a strong, decisive personality is essential for someone in Kleinfelter’s position.
But one Planning Commission member contacted by the City Paper admitted Kleinfelter has sometimes rubbed both developers — and sometimes even neighborhood advocates — the wrong way.
The question now is whether Kleinfelter will have his contract renewed, as he expected it would be before this situation arose. The decision to renew Kleinfelter’s contract will come from the Planning Commission, which will vote on Bernhardt’s recommendation whether to renew or not sometime around the end of the year.
Bernhardt said the Planning Commission has never voted against one of his recommendations on department employee matters. Furthermore, Bernhardt said he had no issues with Kleinfelter’s job performance, although he added that six years was a long tenure for someone in that management position.
“I think David is a very strong and very good and knowledgeable professional,” Bernhardt said. “His approach to interpreting the code is excellent. He tries to find ways to help people achieve their objectives within the code parameters.”
If his contract is not renewed, the question, according to Jameson, will be why. Was it because Kleinfelter could be abrasive and rubbed too many people the wrong way? Or was it because a group of developers took issue with his strict interpretation of zoning code and worked to push him out the door?
“I’m aware there has been a small group who aren’t happy with the way things worked out,” Kleinfelter said. “The vast majority will tell you I’m fair and I’ve worked very hard for them.”
Councilman Jim Gotto, a member of the Planning Commission, said it was inappropriate for Jameson to raise issues surrounding Kleinfelter’s employment at a budget hearing.
“It’s unfortunate he chose this time to raise these questions, when he could have handled it another way,” Gotto said of Jameson raising the issue.
Bernhardt said he will speak with Kleinfelter and make a decision about his future in the coming months.
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The developers will win this one.
In reference to the article written by Reporter Nate Rau, I would suggest maybe it's time to look at Mr. Bernhardt's employment. Metro Government employment is like any other, really, "not a right, just a fortunate situation."Ultimately, the Mayor of the City can make a decision to rid the division of any special interest employees or protectors/guardians paid by the taxpayers.
David Kleinfelter is the best advocate that all Nashvillians can have. Anything contrary to that is a flag planted, in this case, by developers ready to have their way with the Greater Nashville area. If, like Big Papa says, the developers win this one - I say ( ok just think about this for one minute ) put David at the helm of the School Board - brilliance is brilliance and can be used in many facets of our city! We need leaders that will say the hard words that need to be said. ** Snip** "Kleinfelter, admits to earning a reputation for being brash in his dealings with developers...who work hand-in-hand with planning on various issues. Jameson believes a strong, decisive personality is essential for someone in Kleinfelter’s position."
Way to go Mike!
If Gotto has a problem with it then we all need to take the opposite side. We can all thank our good Vice Mayor for this mess. She was the one who put Gotto where he is - so thank you Diane for screwing neighborhoods.
This is an interesting tidbit:"The developer, Affordable Housing Resources, was working with sidewalk construction company J2K Builders, which is owned by Planning Commission Chair Jim McLean."Um... Does nobody have a problem with the fact that the chairman of the Planning Commission also owns a company that is benefitting from city contracts?!?This is f**king OUTRAGEOUS!Either the City Paper reported this fact wrong or they're too stupid to see what the real story is here. Note to Jameson - quit whining about Kleinfelter and start knocking heads about this conflict of interest!!
Unfortunately David Kleinfelter is his own worst enemy. He is employed to be in a neutral position; he should be neither a neighborhood advocate nor pro development. He should be looking for out what is best for the community as a whole. Too many times, during a Planning Commission Meeting David has spoken out in a combative manner during the Commission's deliberation on issues. This outspokenness has not endeared him to the members of the Commission that will at some point vote on his contract.
Morpeus, the fact that McLean has a construction company STILL doesn't counter balance all the neighborhood advocates on the council! OMG.... the little lawyer click in town (Megan Barry, Kleinfelter, David Briley, Eric Cole) all eat lunch together. They're strictly extreme LEFT wingers that oppose any and all development, housing, whatever. You don't seriously believe houses, schools, Krogers, Targets, and so on just drop out of the sky. Oh, I get it, the development fairy makes them poof into existence so you can buy your groceries, educate your kids, go to the hair salon, buy gas, all the things that life requires, including work for a living. Those "pro-neighborhood" groups would prefer you have none of the above mentioned. Sit in on their little meetings, or better yet, watch channel 3 and you'll get an idea of why most developers detest Kleinfelter some days. He's anything but fair and balanced. In fact, it's been said he's confrontational, which makes meetings less effective. Businesses lose money because of his antics. And right now, no one can afford that.
Sounds like perhaps developers have Jameson in their back pocket. Neighborhoods are very fortunate to have Kleinfelter looking out for them... as certainly no one else is going to. Perhaps neighbors need to look at voting out a council member who would go into a meeting with developers and be so unprepared, when a simple call to Kleinfelter could quickly bring them "up to date" on any issues surrounding compliance. Jameson was obviously aware that this person was available. Without an advocate truly looking out for the good of the community, the developers, or the ones who stand to profit, will push until they win.
While Kleinfelter may be your advocate, he's still costing tax payers money in the long run. We have businesses here willing to contribute money to schools, ball parks, and so on, but only find themselves being challenged and criticized at every turn by Kleinfelter and others in positions such as his. And his inability to use broad interpretation of the law is becoming a distraction for the commission. Middle ground is what's needed these days. OMG, especially with the gasoline/energy crisis inflicting harm upon us all, we need more balance these days. Left-winging has got to tone down for a bit here.
girlie, your posts make absolutely no sense today and if you were familiar with planning issues you would know that there is no 'middle ground'. Developers are rarely stopped from building what they want to, the question is will they build it right or build it wrong? Will they build in a way that respects the surrounding neighbors or in a way that ignores their concerns? Will they deal with challenges new development creates for infrastructure or will they pass the costs onto the taxpayers?It is a myth that development creates wealth for existing citizens. In the case of housing, it actually creates costs. Schools, roads, traffic, health care, social services...the average cost of a new home to taxpayers is around 15k per house. The 'left-wing' label is one thrown out by witless people with no facts. You have had insightful posts in the past. Today it is nonsense.And, yes, Dean IS obviously a little too developer friendly. We need to see how Nashville is progressing or regressing at the next election cycle, and what effect his decisions have had on the quality of life here.
genone, I think Jameson was attempting to function as an advocate for Kleinfelter as I read the article. But I wonder if it backfired on him.
The decision on Kleinfelter has already been made, for Jameson and Bernhardt to come to his aid will backfire big time. It already has. Kleinfelter and Jameson have both anounced to the world that Kleinfelter is pro-neighborhood.How can the Mayor or the Commission itself allow someone in that position to have any bias at all?Now both Jameson and Bernhardt have tagged themselves now as well. If he is not carefull, Rick Bernhardt is will be the next to go.
What did they pray about?
pro, did your first post get zapped?bnakat, you bring Jason Holleman into non-relevant threads almost as often as I diss the MCC across the blogosphere. Did he steal your girlfriend from you in High School?
Uhh, Pro, would those secret meeting be anything like the "morning prayer meetings" Whitson et al had to write the COLA budget?
JohnBirch: Perhaps you have never been engaged in adversarial discussions with Councilman Holleman. Of course it could be that you are somehow associated with him, or the other two persons mentioned by pronashville. (One could not consistently wear the name pronashville, and support Mr. Jason Holleman.) So, JB, you have to be either an ally, or uninformed.It is highly unlikely that any cadre that includes him in surreptitious meetings would be remotely connected to a "prayer meeting." As many in the 24th District have learned, when he turns his land use/ planning/zoning guns toward you, it is you who has no prayer.
Yes, TT The webmaster must take a dim view of accusing public officials of breaking the law and so his post was zapped. Pro: As I recalled they prayed for the votes to present an alternative budget to the Mayor's. Notwithstanding the serious contemplation of their spirituality they spent a good deal of time deliberating the people's business. It didn't work. The Mayor prevailed.
Girlieho, please supply some evidence that moderates like Megan Barry—who isn’t a lawyer—David Kleinfelter, & David Briley are “extreme LEFT wingers [sic]” and that they “oppose any and all development [and] housing”. Since they are not, and they do not, I eagerly await your evidence.Mike Jameson did the right thing by calling attention to this, TfT. Now, Bernhardt knows that nothing can be done about this behind closed doors.I agree, Morph, that the conflict of interest about J2K builders is also a big story that THE CITY PAPER ignored.By the way, Kleinfelter’s pro-neighborhood stance can hardly hurt him w/ the general public. Most of us prefer decent neighborhoods to the invasion of condominiums, mcmanors, or Wal-Marts. Considering that Eric Crafton is still on the council & he will bend over for any commercial developer, we need some strong neighborhood advocates there as well.
TfT: Pro introduced the councilman when he was listed, along with two others in the post that was removed. No, he did not steal a girlfriend from me. His atrocious misbehavior was far more sinister than that.
Lambert . . . er, bnakat . . . give it a rest! I wish you wouldspend as much time doing something productive as you do running downour councilman.