Justice Dept. investigates Metro’s land use policies

Monday, February 18, 2008 at 1:07am

In cooperation with the Department of Justice, Metro Internet Technology Services staffers copied hard drive information from computers in four Metro offices Friday in response to a preliminary investigation into the city’s land use policies.

IT staff copied the hard drive information from computers in the Codes Administration, the Planning Commission, the Health Department and the Fire Department.

The Justice Department says it is looking into whether Metro violated the Fair Housing Act and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act when it rezoned a Goodlettsville building in February 2007, where a religious nonprofit organization called Teen Challenge sought to use as a rehabilitation center.

“The Department of Justice sent us a letter concerning a preliminary investigation into our land use policies, requesting that we copy the hard drives and obtain other information from [the four Metro departments],” Metro Associate Law Director Jim Charles said.

Teen Challenge International, founded in New York in 1960, was seeking to use the building as a residential rehabilitation center for male and female residents with alcohol and drug addiction. Teen Challenge is an international religious-based group with 170 regional centers in 48 states that claims to have helped “hundreds of young people break free from the destructive cycle of addiction through a disciplined program of rehabilitation.”

When it came time to grant a land use permit, constituents in Councilman Rip Ryman’s 10th district spoke out against Teen Challenge moving into its neighborhood.

Metro Council voted to re-zone the property at 2165 Baker Road in Goodlettsville in February 2007, which effectively denied Teen Challenge from acquiring a use and occupancy permit required to conduct its religious rehabilitation activities.

The property was sold at auction by Teen Challenge last May.

Teen Challenge then filed a civil suit in July seeking $500,000 in damages from Metro and an additional $150,000 in damages for three of its Nashville-area residents plus attorney’s fees.

As part of its lawsuit, Teen Challenge requested the Federal Court to declare Metro violated the Fair Housing Act and the religious land-use act in addition to the U.S. and Tennessee constitutions. The Department of Justice investigation is in response to that request.

Teen Challenge filed a notice on Jan. 18 stating it was in settlement negotiations with Metro.

Filed under: City News
Tagged:
By: BADCOPS on 12/31/69 at 6:00

Violated the Fair Housing Act? Hey look at the felons MDHA has living in public housing. That needs to be investigated also.Since it is against Federal and State laws to house felons why does MDHA get away with this fraud of theirs.Justice Department needs to set up a permanent shop here and investigate MDHA for breaking federal laws.

By: artsmart on 12/31/69 at 6:00

What a Government, they just can't seem to understand the law pertains to them also. I think it is time to have some federal funding pulled and then maybe they will get it.. Metro Schools is being investigated by the Justice Department for Federal Civil Rights Violations. I believe the local courts are also being investigated.

By: HokeyPokey on 12/31/69 at 6:00

Nate, I'm thinking the concept of the inverted pyramid is unknown to you?

By: sarabellum on 12/31/69 at 6:00

If it was legal to use the property for a treatment center when the property was bought, then the zoning was changed afterward, then Teen Challenge was wronged.

By: Time for Truth on 12/31/69 at 6:00

They should be looking at alot more than this incident, especially at codes. Hopefully this is just a smokescreen for a broader and more comprehensive investigation.

By: girliegirl on 12/31/69 at 6:00

Guys, guys, guys.... nowhere in this article does it mention that MDHA was a contributor in this violation. It mentions: Codes, Fire, Planning Comm, and Health Depts.... not MDHA. And more importantly, it was Metro Council that changed the zoning. That means, since I share pillow talk w/former member, it took 3 votes (on record) to alter that zoning. There was no "conspiracy theory" here. Just a bunch of fellas in a back room somewhere trading favors to get this over and done with.