Metro Planning has launched the Ecological Conservation Strategy (ECS) to shape a future where Nashville continues to grow and thrive while preserving the landscapes, ecosystems, and sense of place that makes it unique.   This is Nashville's first countywide plan for understanding the effects of recent growth on the county’s landscape since the 2011 Open Space Plan and will explore opportunities to protect and conserve our natural environment – such as waterways, forests, hilltops, hillsides, and green spaces – while supporting growth.  Over the next 18 months, working with stakeholders and residents across Davidson County, Metro Nashville will assess the health of our natural resources and develop a concrete action plan that could include; conservation priorities, pilot projects, and policy recommendations based on expert analysis and community and stakeholder feedback. 

The Design & Development Strategy (D&DS) is a Metro Nashville Planning Department initiative to evaluate how current policies, zoning, design standards, and development processes are shaping growth in Nashville’s rapidly changing urban core. The project aims to improve predictability in development while supporting livable, human‑centered places, protecting historic and cultural assets, and aligning growth with the long‑term vision of NashvilleNext. The D&DS will also explore integrating recent countywide plans into the urban core framework and assess the feasibility of a Transferrable Development Rights program to help preserve important sites. Overall, the study will create a coordinated foundation for future policy discussions about growth and development in Nashville’s most urban areas.

Jefferson Street is one of Nashville’s most iconic transportation corridors and the Jefferson Street Corridor Study will work with the community to make it safer and more accessible for all users while maintaining the unique character of the corridor. The study is part of the Choose How You Move initiative, which aims to improve sidewalks, signals, service, and safety across our community.