Developers who choose to build affordable housing in Davidson County can soon receive discounts on future construction-related permit fees.
By a 28-7 vote, the Metro Council on Tuesday night approved a bill sponsored by At-large Councilman Jerry Maynard and three other council members that will reduce permit fees for developers of workforce development housing.
The reduction will apply to houses priced below $152,000, or $1,100 to rent per month.
The idea, Maynard has said, is to offer financial incentives to spur more affordable housing in Davidson County. The new law offers a 25 percent reduction on electrical, plumbing, gas/mechanical and building permit fees.
Metro needs "more affordable workforce housing" in single-family, multi-family and rental properties, Maynard previously has said.
Maynard’s bill survived a request to defer from Councilman Jim Hodge, who said representatives from the Greater Nashville Association of Realtors had not been invited to the table to discuss the legislation.
The council shot down the deferral request by a 21-15 vote.
In other items:
• The council withdrew Mayor Karl Dean’s previously endorsed legislation that outlines a set of leases for Hickory Hollow Mall and that would have enabled a new expo center to relocate there.
Dean and his administration have departed from plans to create the new expo center, but are moving forward with plans to open a new public library, community center and Metro Archives facility at the mall.
Metro Finance Director Richard Riebeling said a new ordinance outlining the new lease for the public functions will be introduced in January.
• The council on the second of three votes advanced a bill sponsored by Councilman Darren Jernigan that would restrict future development in the city’s floodway. The bill would also require developers in floodplains to abide by a set of low-impact development practices.
• The council approved a resolution that allows Metro Water Services to begin the purchasing of 81 homes during May’s flood. Owners of the 81 homes opted into Metro’s buyout plan that seeks to tear down houses susceptible to future flooding. The 81 properties are in Delray Drive in west Nashville and West Hamilton Avenue in north Nashville.
• The council approved on the second of three votes a bill sponsored by Councilman Jason Holleman that would allow drivers of environmentally friendly vehicles to park free at downtown public meters.
The vote came even though At-large Councilman Charlie Tygard said he plans to introduce what he calls a “companion bill” that would give free meter parking “for any individuals who provide a certificate of the carbon offset of their vehicles.”
• The council deferred for one meeting voting on Eric Crafton’s bill to remove members of the Tennessee Board of Fair Commissioners.