ORDINANCE NO. BL2009-585

An Ordinance restricting the use of Metropolitan Government-owned property commonly known as the Tennessee State Fairgrounds.

WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Government is the owner of real property commonly known as the Tennessee State Fairgrounds (hereinafter “Fairgrounds”) consisting of Map 105-11-0, Parcel No. 301.00, and Map 105-12-0, Parcel No. 062.00, and shown by lines, words, and figures on the attached sketches incorporated into this Ordinance as Exhibits A and B; and

WHEREAS, the Fairgrounds property is currently operated by and under the control of the Metropolitan Board of Fair Commissioners (the “Fair Board”); and

WHEREAS, the Fair Board is an instrumentality of the Metropolitan Government created by Chapter 515, Tennessee Private Acts of 1923; and

WHEREAS, the Fair Board was created for the purpose of establishing, maintaining, and operating a fair for the people of Nashville and Davidson County; and

WHEREAS, on October 6, 2009, the Fair Board voted to continue operation of the Fairgrounds through June 30, 2010, and to explore alternative accommodations for events held at the Fairgrounds; and

WHEREAS, Section 11.602 of the Metropolitan Charter provides that the duties of the Fair Board includes those duties imposed upon the Board by ordinance of the Metropolitan Council; and

WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Government is also the owner of property located at Map 93-06, Parcel 41, Map 93-07, Parcels 35, 36, 37, 41, and 41.01 and Parcel ID 90000000370, commonly referred to as the Thermal Site, which property has yet to be developed; and

WHEREAS, since the Metropolitan Government owns the Thermal Site property that is currently available for development, the Council has determined that it is in the best interest of the citizens of Nashville and Davidson County that the use of the Fairgrounds property be restricted to the uses that were in effect as of October 1, 2009, until an agreement for a public-private partnership for the redevelopment of a portion of the Fairgrounds is approved by the Metropolitan Council.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:

Section 1. That the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County is hereby restricted from using the Fairgrounds property for any purpose other than a fair, racetrack, expo center (including flea markets, trade shows, conferences, special events, Christmas Village, etc.), storage facility for the Davidson County Election Commission, headquarters for senior citizens centers, Metropolitan Nashville Public School bus parking, public health vaccination dispensing, and as a site for emergency management coordination.

Section 2. The Metropolitan Board of Fair Commissioners shall have the duty of exploring the feasibility of a partnership with a private corporation for the redevelopment of a portion of the Fairgrounds property as a corporate center. Such public-private partnership should include the creation of a Master Development Plan whereby the private entity would agree to assist with the rehabilitation and/or redevelopment of the government-owned property for Fairgrounds purposes in exchange for obtaining the portion of the property necessary for construction of a corporate center at a below-market value price.

Section 3. This Ordinance shall take effect from and after its enactment, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.

Sponsored by: Eric Crafton, Robert Duvall, Duane Dominy

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