During the council discussions, the following key points were noted:
- Councilwoman Burs announced plans to defer one item to April 9th and requested permission to read a lengthy opposition letter related to a zoning case into the record, emphasizing it was from the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home who disagreed with a community decision.
- A proposal for constructing a drill tower for the fire department was mentioned, with an estimated cost of $1.4 million, emphasizing its importance for regional fire departments and training purposes.
- Concerns were raised about the current approach to affordable housing pilots, leading to a detailed presentation on a new flexible per unit tax abatement approach aimed at incentivizing developers to include affordable housing units in their projects. The new pilot program aims to provide more flexibility, encourage mixed-income developments, and ensure that affordable units remain high quality and affordable for 15 years, with a cap of $2 million in abatements annually.
Action Items:
- Councilwoman Burs will defer one item to April 9th and has been granted permission to attach an opposition letter to the minutes.
- The council will consider the proposed $1.4 million expenditure for constructing a new drill tower for the fire department.
- The council is to review and potentially adopt a new approach to affordable housing pilots, aiming to better incentivize the inclusion of affordable housing units in new developments.
