grapa

I like your reasoning on these points. I think in our guessing games we play we can logically play out any ending we would like. I could turn some of what you say to support the stand that industrial sites will not pop up along Old Hickory Blvd. as you would suggest. Neither will a commercial strip. Gallatin Road, Nolensville Road, etc.., be seen along the Blvd. This idea is absurd if you are familiar with the area. Once driving the 'Bend' and knowing the battles that played out against movement into this area it stands that the pristine land will still be seen along OHB. View sheds have been closely monitored in the over-all plan for the Beamon Park to Bells Bend Plan. I drove the perimeter of the MTC property on Friday and saw a proposed path of the planned for bridge that will cross the Cumberland. It is amazing to be in the middle of 1500 acres and feel lost. The approximate 900 acres to be left untouched is immense in size because it is flat and open. The site can easily hold a 500 acre site and still remain in touch with nature, if properly planned for and the MTC proposal does exactly that. It is a detailed plan for the future. If the Bend is left to be developed piece by piece it can be haphazard and show no fluid connection with other an over-all planned future. Across OHB from the MTC property there is a sod farm, the manager of the sewage treatment plant lives on the next piece of property, then comes the sewage treatment plant, and lastly 800 acres of the Bells Bend Park. Next to the MTC property there is one farm of nearly 700 acres between two ridges that will separate the MTC development with the rest of Bells Bend. If you travel from this point back toward highway 12 there is not more than 50 acres of flat land along Old Hickory Blvd. Homes are built above the road and below road grade in some places making construction of any kind 'very' difficult. If we will only look into the future(20 years) closely we possibly can see a 2nd bridge crossing the Cumberland connecting I-40 West that would open up River Road.

It is interesting to read questions that innocently draw attention and become topics of threads here while being off base. Whether it is 9 or 10 corporate campus sites planned it means the same, these are projected to be large corporates from other geographical regions of the country. They would bring highly educated trained people who will want to reside and shop within walking distance of their workplace. These stories are in the news daily! There already exists two sod farms in Bells Bend plus an 800 acre park. When adding 900 more acres designated for conservation the area has or will have in place over 2,000 acres in green space. Do you really think the planning commissioners will be easily persuaded to come back and allow anything other than what Bells Bend residents want the next time?!!!

It is great to see the discussion has taken more of a compromise view than one than down grades any attempt to meet what will be our future. It is not easy to look into what the next decade will bring, but 'most' will agree that it will take somewhat of a visionary person or community to reach out and plan for what is ahead when times look so 'bleak', now. In not any particular order consider: 1). One access, bridge, will attempt to meet the needs for the immediate future, but look for a second later, 15 yrs. 2). The industrial business now existing along Centennial Blvd. will not creep across the river! There would be no reasoning to do so and you can believe that with the building of MTC residents will DEMAND tougher restrictions to be followed governing the remaining land of Bells Bend. Current zoning would do so if not changed! 3). MTC will be sized down. 4). The idea of a corporate campus is to have most of those who work in the new corporate headquarters to also live within walking or shuttle distance. Most of which will be upper level jobs held by highly skilled individuals. 5). The shops or commercial businesses will be up-scale, probably specialty shops. 6). Old Hickory Blvd. will be rebuilt to meet current standards and will prove to be as scenic or more so than is now. The current road is narrow, curvey and has many blind access drives while seeing heavy traffic by tractor trailers, delivery trucks and boaters. 7). Any relocated corporation into MTC will pour big dollars into the non-profit sector of our community. 8). Minority business owners will be demanded as stakeholders in the construction of MTC. These are thoughts by a neighbor of the May property and I am in support of trying to build a future for Nashville that is bright. Fighting to 'keeps things as they are' for the sake of being against change does not provide for the economic benefit of tomorrow.

I continue to read individuals who have stated statistics showing "this area", referring to Bells Bend, as having produced up to 75% of the produce for Nashville or Middle Tennessee. It gives the hint that development or 'progress' has eliminated the production of produce from the Bells Bend area. I take issue with this. The majority of the land that is proposed for the MTC development has been open fields for what most of the current generation can remember. Hundreds of acres have been mowed for hay with the idea to keep the land cleaned. This hay has been used to feed cattle but has not been a financial agreement. When the largest cattle farm sold out after the owner died, the land was then purchased by the May faimily. Remember, we are talking about the "Lower End" of Bells Bend. There are natural land features that somewhat divide the 'Bend' into two parts. Most of the "Lower End" now consists of an existing park, substation for sewage, and sod farm. Looking at these together it seems the additional 900 acre conservation area and proposed site for the MTC is a good fit.

In the May Town Center proposal there are stipulations in place to stop further growth beyond the boundaries of the project. The immediate lands surrounding the building site 'have to' remain rural in nature with the possibility of residential development making up the remaining Bells Bend area. (Cluster housing can be a possibility). Drive up and down the feeding streets into the city and see the long stretches of shops and strip malls that exist a few months and then is on the market; Dickerson Road, Gallatin Road, Charlotte Avenue and others. The proximity of the 'Bend' with downtown and the Cumberland River can meet the needs for both conservation and the future economic development of Davidson County.

It has been interesting to watch some of those who comment on this subject switch back and forth on this matter, strongly against to moderately luke warm for. There are 'others of us' who live very near the land proposed for this project who are in support of Mr. May and his plans for Nashville. It is only adding nonsense to the discussion when lame suggestions are thrown out to fuel a verbal fight that should only be receiving constructive conversation at this point. Those who have seen and read the proposal presented to us at the last meeting realize extra effort will be made and so all of the Scottsboro, Bells Bend and First District area will benefit. There is another meeting the middle of this month and all are invited.

Population and debt can not be stopped! We make wise management decisions at times and struggle to deal with these societal problems at others. We tend to make band-aid style decisions neighborhood by neighborhood hoping that these problems will go away and not rear their ugly heads again. The budget proposal is before us on the local and state level. There are problems that have arisen that society as a 'whole' will suffer from and have the responsibility to solve. So, that means you and me! We can not stick our heads in the sand and want things to stay "just as it has always been" in our own neighborhood. We can hold onto the 'tales' our parents and grandparents share with us of times that are often thought to be the happy years growing up. But, we live in a period and society with much different problems and demands that our parents and grandparents did not have to face. I can not drive across town into someone else's neighborhood to work, shop and for family entertainment and then return to my home and expect it to remain as it has been for the last 100 years, or more. The developments of the week have revealed cuts in jobs and department budget reductions at a time our local educational budget seeing an increase in funding. The leaders of Davidson County will be making the decision of trying to maintain where we are economically or how do we work out of the hole we find ourselves in today. Will Davidson County make the hard decisions to build for the future and be prepared to deal with the delicate and unexpected demands that come with community planning.

Discussion is good for working out differences when 'all' sides agree to share for the benefit of all concerned. Personal agendas only create an atmosphere of conflict and while it is productive to have 'causes' in our society they should not be used to obtain personal gain. Those outside this area of District 1 need to realize that the area in discussion, the Scottsboro/Bells Bend, is just that. It is combining the two mostly because of geographic relationship. Highway 12 separates the two and there is a distinction today that has changed over the years. The assigned role of the Planning Commission has always been clear and plainly stated. Can it be that there existed a plan to use them to carry out a plan to take the first step in blocking any development in the Bells Bend area. Without the PC and it's direction we would already have had a dump, race track, or 50,000 residents polluting our ditches and streams and no 'cranes' the last ten years or more! There are property owners trying to remain on the side of fairness and willing to work our way through the process and not continue on a course of conflict. The arguments used to bring a combative atmosphere to our town meetings are valid issues in our society today, but have been used wrongly here. There has been and is no concrete long term plans and opportunities to develop and use the Bells Bend area for what has been described as a means to feed Nashville. These are well thought out dreams and may have been shared by myself once, but we must come to the conclusion that this would be a wise and constructive move into the future for Nashville.

Are saying do this without the 'bridge'? It seems to be the block that stumbles. With the MTC there seems to be some consideration of Mr. M. of coffing up some $ to help pay.

I will give Mr. L. credit for getting some to continue the dialogue. How can there be some who take credit for helping the BB community with keeping RACING out of OUR neighborhood now see how popular it would look here when it fits their agenda. The fairgrounds has had it's troubles over the years from poor attendance at events to what some thought to be management problems. The city has hired the guy they think can help resurrect the FG. How many times do we make a change like moving an established proprietor like the FG and it's scheduled events only to see that the change caused it's demise. Could it possibly be that the hosting community has changed it's priorities where a 'State Fair' is not as welcoming as it was in the "past'? Has it logically become the 'Middle Tennessee' Fair and that Williamson and Wilson County will always out draw it? These are "fair" communities. I won't even go into the economics of the loss that would come from the swap. If we are just throwing ideas off the wall why has not someone come up with the idea of an Agri-Center using all of the existing land in Bells Bend. News has come back from Epcot Center and demostrations there using new growing techniques. The University of Tennessee has just moved part of one of their developmental farms away form Knoxville and it landed in another Middle Tennessee County near-by!! But, I am talking in a 'grand scale' and not the plant a field and let it grow plan that some think will label our Bend as the food source of Tennessee and the Garden Spot of America. Our economy is in needs of some relief, I am on a fixed income as many residents I know and call neighbors and want to be able to say what we want to do with our land. It is a right and what our country was built on, the American Dream.

WrdBrn, I, would have problems with living within earshot of 440, as can you imagine what a race track would have brought, think of Gladeville. I am one of those who wish to do what ever "off my front porch." Make the drive down Briley near Ashland City exit and look at the man-made mountains that a consumption hungry-obese society is content with as long as it is in someone else' front yard. I love the idea resembling Leiper sFork. The log cabin replica that was placed at the intersection of hwy 12 and OHB was a great idea and we had a big yard sale and barbecue to help. All of this "is" what I woould strongly support, "but" at that location I fear the site would not be successful due to the much more heavy traffic load down Hyw 12. most of which is headed out of town or into town. Hwy 12 is a "means to some place else" and I can not see it being workful at that site. Now, something down around old Wade school might work, but(there that word is again) a "bit' out of the way and sight. Before going further, I do want to show some appreciation to WrdBrn understanding that you helped out with the other issues of encroachment we have put up with. Thanks!

Thanks, I will check this out. I really do want to be the best informed on this subject, MTC. I am directly effected by this I DO WANT if not need to be in on what someone else plans to do to my life. I want to be in on want comes my way, only in that I want to have some say! Would a dump have fit where you live?

Excuse me for the interruption but I have a question about the NEW herd of 500 cattle curretly graising in the Bend. I have not seen this herd ater driving OHB after picking up my paper at the box this morning. I did run into (not really) a flat bed unloading heavy equipment working on one of the projects in Bells Bend Park. On my return I also saw a Metro Bus stalled along the shoulder of OHB. Are the two related? I do not, and have not, seen any proof that the Bend has been and will be a major source of food for our community. The proof is in the "not seeing it done, yet!" The cattle seen on the highway recently, being trucked out, was on the way to the sale barn. We are trying to hang our hats on a 'dream' to believe that major food productions can be done in the Bend. Let's tell it like it is. It is easy to use this for reason to protect land from development, and to keep it as green space. These arguemnts I can accept are 'legit! '

WrdBrn, it seems you have recovered(some) from your earlier writing.(on the CP) I again apologize for others comments from yesterday. I do like more of the dialogue that comes out after each meeting occurs. Organizers on both sides have lined up their "big guns" for this debate. It should not come down to who can yell the loudest and who can get the biggest name backing. My constaint request has been to talk and bring new information to the table. If not now discussion will include the area of Centnnial Blvd. and along Ashland City Highway. This discussion is just beginning and isn't it nice to see how each of you has added to the information shared. I am glad to read more from RL who can be an insider for information. Did each of you get the handouts available at last nights meeting. The picures give an image of a well planned project from the beginning and planning's suggestions seem to fit what MTC has in mind.

The plans for the Bells Bend park are 'great' and I have used the walking trail along the river bank. The new construction in the park along OHB shows improvement that will enhance the parks' programs. I have seen deer and hawks and an eagle overhead. I understand educational programs are planned for the future. All of this is what our community needs, but I do not want to limit the potential for the park or for the number of visitors that could possibly come. The nearly five hundred acres proposed for the MTC is a small percentage of the possible total acreage of the park when including the land offered by the May family. "If you build it they will come," idea would apply here if a more friendly and easy access to the area was available. Park visitor totals would multiply if the park was more accessible!

We rode the 'Polar Express' with our grandchildren at Christmas. I highly recommend this even as a relaxing experience for anyone. Take an afternoon, downtown Lebanon is within walking distance of the depot and offer a variety of shopping. The Chamber office is on the square and friendly to strangers. I do have a question about the transportation service available at the other end of the line. I highly support a rail system through MT into Nashville. Is there in place adequate transportation once unboarding to all of the areas away from downtown. Are most current riders employed downtown. I am not sure I would happily ride a bus every work day.

SHUZILLA, Thanks for the comments. I am a very "big" conservationist at heart and animal lover, on the fringe of a 'tree hugger'. I am not climbing a tree and live in a tent, though. My statements may not have given that perception, but I believe that the two sides in this discussion can live together. There is a lot of land here that can not be used for industry, factories and large scrap metal salvage yards. No one should dream that this area could ever develop into "the" major food production source Middle Tennessee or Nashville. It could be developed into agricultural extension farm for experimental purposes, UT has several around the state. They are in the process of closing one now and moving it to Middle Tennessee.

I like what I see is happening today. There is sensible dialogue that can be constructive(sorry about my choice of words). Someone wrote last week that 'consideration should be given to what roads all of those trucks and heavy equipment were going to travel during construction'. I have to conceed that there may be initial traffic to get groundbreaking and first construction of buildings started. (Maybe). All site construction could be negotiated to take place after completion of the (first) bridge. Also, no one has said that only one bridge would be the only one built. The project is to be built in stages per TG comments. This would allow most of initial traffic to travel Centennial Blvd. and a second bridge in the second stage. I don't want to give much credit but this isn't the "first time" for these business partners! I also want to add that for years we in the Bend have complained about the narrow road we travel each day. I have dodged big rigs, delivery trucks, SUV, boats, and trailers for years!! Not too long ago we had a young mother killed by such over-sized traffic and the road is the same, today! It would be nice to have ample room for each lane and shoulders for the bike riders from Beamon Park to Bells Bend Park.

Thanks for the play by play. Don't forget the meeting in Scottsboro on the 25th. Keeping OHB will come up again! Did you know there exists approximately 26 acres in The Bend zoned industrial? If the bridge is built with a Centennial Blvd. access you will see an upgrade in the road with tree lined curbs. The banks on both sides will require building up and could raise the bridge so frontage roads to the prison and other industry will be needed. Channel 5 did a report live and also had video inside showing the big crowd and speakers. It was a short report, though. More will be seen today and probably in the Tennessean tomorrow. How do you think last nites meeting will affect the next in "The Bend".

Sorry, I was about to forget one nugget for thought. With all of this water access shoreline comments(rumors) have been heard, maybe hopes, that a marina could possibly been in the long range plans, especially if the bridge did come across at Centennial Blvd. and the island the start of a navigatable waterway. There really are a lot of possibilities!

GID; The least intrusive access to the Bend would have a head start on any other project. Closing OHB never seemed a viable action as an earlier writer commented that it was used as a negotiating tactic. The Bend is zoned one unit per two acres. Some want it all to become one per five estate acres. Mr. Z. came in too aggressive and not knowing his opponent. The planning commission is quick to point out that the term "zoning" implies that changes can be initiated by anyone. At tonights meeting of residents of the Charlotte Road and Annex Road area information came out about another possibility for location of 'the' bridge. I have written earlier that access from Centennial Blvd. made more sense for a lot of obvious reasons, plus very few are aware that Robertson Island lies directly in line with CB and that the MTC group already owns it. It is a virtual 'waste' land, good for just a few possible uses.(Check your maps). Yes, I do think something is possible. I just want something good for "our" neighborhood, and if the city of Nashville benefited I can only see where we might see only more benefits.

I am happy to see some dialogue concerning MTC continue, I don't want to sound as if I represent myself as speaker anyone other than myself. Being directly affected by this proposal, I am concerned about my home, family, natural environment, value of life and land value. Is there a property owner who isn't? After defeating Mr. Z, who came in telling us what was going to happen without public input! How many times will fighting get resolution. It is not a case of giving in that we face. It is an intelligent move to get those things that can possibly help everyone, this is in my opinion, and that is all that I am trying to convey. Ten families, all property owners directly affected by this project, met in my home recently to hear proposals from individuals who live outside of the "Bend" about putting our land in conservatory and heritage land protection and Nashville Greenspace. These providing sale of the development rights to our property while maintaining ownership. There would be prearranged conditions of sale that would remain on the property. Another of my opinions that I have tried to convey is that those who have yelled, chanted, called for a poll of hands, and portrayed a rude uncooperative spirit are led by individuals who live away from the actual building site, and North of Highway 12. Those who are familiar with the area call Bells Bend, "the Bend", when referring to someone who lives here. They are quiet living residents, mostly from families who have lived here for generations, voters, poll workers and have passed homesteads along to younger generations. Most of these people do not, most of the support for connecting Beamon Park with Bells Bend Park with greenspace and bike trails are locally and statewide politically connected. We want to be able to say what we want to do with our property, not be told and bullied into something else! OOOPS, I have rattled on, again! Sorry abot that. It is a touchy subject when it comes down to you. We just want the "best" fit that everyone can live with, we do not want to continue to fight and I do not want new taxes, check the budget discussions going on right now. Most would not vote for a tax increase but how do we pay!

I agree that including of the suggestion of barring traffic North beyond Bells Bend Park was a 'chess' move from someone who has played this game before. I, like my neighbors would find it difficult to swallow if we were denied access to something that could be so positive while living across a drawn line in the sand. Would they actually dangle the prize before our nose and not allow us to taste it simply because some had opposing views. Stopping flow on OHB seems to be far fetched to me. I suggest going to the Home of the maytowncenter.com, in one presentation by T.G. it was hinted that maybe there was four possible bridge accesses. Look at the bottom trees areas, the old ferry site, and to the upper right off Centennial Blvd. Check the Tennessean daily for the budget hearings news and the school board is asking for an increase in their budget for next year. In comments made by T.G. the possibility of private financing by Mr. May is mentioned. Do I suggest he will pay for everything, I would be foolish. The planning commission also pointed out they were wstablished to "plan" for the entire metro community, the proximity of BB to downtown could possibly be its' undoing. Do you know that a stretch along OHB is also zoned industrial? (IR - Industrial Restricted)

A good part of Bells Bend is zoned for one unit per two acres of land. Some have tried to change this and also add cluster grouping. MTC will use a smaller portion for development than others have proposed and will leave more acres for 'natural causes'. I believe that thru compromise the size of the deveopment will be smaller than originally planned, isn't that what negotiating is all about. The biggest interest in this project has to be the involvement of corporate buildings to benefit the city. As a resident of the "Bend" I can not see the closing of OHB anywhere along the existing road. Wouldn't this be counter-productive in the goal of developing a 'Park' that is suppose to serve all of the residents of Davidson County and beyond? For those who can remember when the dialogue began concerning development of Bells Bend into the future of Nashville, the building of a bridge in West Nashville was for the purpose of opening up the region and allow traffic flow from Highway 12 and the Joelton area(North) to Interwstate 40 and West Nashville.

It is good to hear some well thought comments from some who understand that this is a chance for all involved to benefit. One article gave the area of Bells Bend to 6000 acres. The MTC group is volunteering approximately 1000 acres for preservation. This is one-sixth of the approximate total area of the 'Bend'. I wonder how many landowners would willingly give up one-sixth of their property when land is at such a premium and in demand. The total area from the Beamon Park through Bells Bend would be between 12-13000 acres. This would mean that the MTC is handing over a large part of land nearing the size of the Beamon Park, larger than Bells Bend park and the nearly 500 acres proposed to be used is a small portion of the total land area. On top of all this "all" of the citizens of Davidson County can benefit from this source of new tax base. While some surounding counties have sufficient tax bases there are some who would beg for additional sources.