Wednesday, July 18, 2007




Look what I found sticking around my neighborhood. The website is pretty cool. Looks like Harold's been a bad boy. www.nomorewhitelies.com




Wednesday, June 20, 2007

DHNA to host Metro Council Candidate Forum

The Donelson-Hermitage Neighborhood Association (DHNA) is proud to host a Candidate Forum for candidates running for Metro Council seats in Donelson and Hermitage on June 25th at 7:00pm at the Hermitage Police Precinct at 3701 James Kay Lane.

The forum will consist of two question and answer sessions. The first part of the forum will consist of questions from DHNA's Board of Directors. The second half will feature an opportunity for candidates to answer questions from the audience.

Questions will include topics such as rezoning, community involvement, commercial development, constituent representation, and the future of Donelson and Hermitage.

DHNA is proud to bring the community members and council candidates together. This forum will allow neighbors an opportunity to actually meet the candidates and learn firsthand how they intend to represent their constituents the next four years if elected to the Metro Council.

Invited candidates include Shane Burkett and Jim Gotto - District 12; Carl Burch and Tony Derryberry - District 13; James Bruce Stanley and Harold White - District 14; and Phil Claiborne, Gary Neal Howell, and Larry Keeton - District 15.

Neighbors in District 11 (seat vacated by Feller Brown) are invited to join the Old Hickory Historic Village Neighborhood Association on Tuesday, June 26th, at 6:30 pm at the Old Hickory Community Center for a candidate forum featuring Johnny Ellis, Darren Jernigan, and Rick McClintock.

Both forums are free and open to the public.

Democracy is such an important gift. We must always exercise our right to vote. Strong voter turnout will make sure that the people's candidates are elected to represent our community.

For more information contact DHNA at dhnapresident@yahoo.com
and/or the Old Hickory Neighbors at district11forum@oldhickory.org

Check out Moore Thoughts

Sarah Moore makes a great point about Harold White's campaign signs.

Sunday, June 3, 2007

DHNA to Host forum

Dear Neighbors,

The Donelson-Hermitage Neighborhood Association is proud to invite you and all of your neighbors to two very exciting events in June. On Monday, June 4th, DHNA will sponsor a Mayoral and Vice Mayoral candidate forum. The forum will be held at the Hermitage Police Precinct, 3701 James Kay Lane from 7:00 - 9:00 pm. The forum will include questions prepared by DHNA as well as audience submitted questions from folks like you.Topics to be discussed include education, public safety, community issues and the environment. Come meet the next mayor and vice mayor of Nashville.

On Monday, June 25th, DHNA will sponsor a Metro Council Candidate Forum. Candidates running for council seats in districts 12, 13, 14 and 15 from Donelson and Hermitage have been invited to participate. This forum will be held at the Hermitage Police Precinct, 3701 James Kay Lane at 7:00pm and last for approximately two hours. DHNA will work with the Old Hickory Neighborhood Association on a forum for candidates in District 11.

Enclosed as an attachment is the June / July DHNA newsletter. Please forward this email and the attachment as an invitation to all of your friends, neighbors, and members of your neighborhood group.

Come early to get a good seat. We look forward to seeing you then.

Remember as neighbors, we stand stronger when we stand together.

Susan Floyd
President
Donelson-Hermitage Neighborhood Association

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

I love debate

Debate about our corner here. And here.

Again, we would welcome a medical building. And, we would welcome our new neighbors. But, the scale will overshadow our neighborhood and the location upon the lot makes it a car-oriented building. Then, guess what? That precedent-setting big building brings on more big buildings and more big buildings. Next thing you know we're "in the heart of a medical district."

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Letter to the Editor

The News Herald (Hermitage, Donelson, Old Hickory paper) wrote an article on the building approval. This is a letter that one homeowner has sent to the paper refuting some of the statements.


Dear Editor:

Re: The News Herald 5/17/2007 article, “Council OKs 3-Story Office on Central Pike, i.e., corner of Central Pike & Dodson Chapel Road

As an actively involved Hermitage neighbor, I am concerned that your recent article regarding the three-story medical office building on Central Pike in Hermitage included misleading information and was missing some very important facts about what actually happened.

To begin, there were NOT three community meetings held by the councilman or the developer for this project. Councilman Harold White told the Council that in 2005 he held a community meeting under a tent but that no one had attended. This was probably due to the fact that the only notice was a short paragraph in this newspaper delivered to neighbors two hours before the meeting. Many received it the day after.

White told the Planning Commission that indeed he had NOT held a community meeting in 2007 for this current rezoning. He claimed the setback was the only issue before them, when in fact there was much more. Now the developer (the same one as the Villages of Riverwood) wanted three-stories instead of two, a change from retail/office and residential to medical, 35,000 square feet, as well as the change in the building setback.

The Metro Council, concerned over a conflict between the comments made by the neighbors and the claims made by the co-sponsor, deferred the vote on second reading and asked the sponsor to meet with the community. After this, Hermitage Meadows neighbors sponsored their own community meeting. It was here that most neighbors first learned of the rezoning and voiced their concern and extreme opposition. They were extremely opposed to a three-story building and losing their Neighborhood Center land use policy designed by them in the Sub-Area 14 Plan. The neighbors asked for a compromise. As a result of this meeting, Councilman White agreed that neighborhood leaders and the developer should meet again to work out a compromise.

This action gave the neighbors and the other Council members in attendance the perception that the developers would work with the neighbors to come up with a compromise. The Council voted to pass on second reading and defer indefinitely because White told the Council that he wanted time for neighbors and developers to work out a compromise. Unfortunately, when this meeting finally occurred, White and the developers told neighbors that there would be no negotiating and no compromise. White's comments were, "You have two choices, you can get on board with the developers, or you don’t. Either way we are building a three-story medical office building here."

At third reading, White told the Council he had held three community meetings. Was he counting the tent in 2005, the neighbors meeting, and the negotiations meeting intended for a few neighbors where White and the developer broke their agreement to compromise? At least three members of Council spoke in opposition to the bill. The Planning Staff revealed that this rezoning would indeed change the building from two-stories to three, increase the square footage, change the plan from retail/office with residential, as well as the building setback. The Planning Staff agreed with what the neighbors had said all along, that the setback was not the only issue.

White's agreement to work toward compromise had been broken. A quick voice vote was taken with votes both for and against. This unusually quick vote had many believing they were voting to cut off debate and not the bill. A machine vote was not taken.

The citizens of Hermitage deserve to read all of the facts of what really happens with decisions that affect their community. Councilman White signed an agreement to support the Sub-Area 14 Plan, yet not once has this occurred. He has supported developers over constituents for the past four years. He ignored many signed petitions against re-zoning issues, i.e., re-zoning on Central Pike, ignored Donelson neighbors on a McCrory Creek office building, ignored over 500 neighbors who opposed Villages of Riverwood, ignored 600 Hermitage Hills neighbors against Ravenwood, and ignored 100% of Donelson’s Riverpoint neighbors who opposed commercial encroachment into their neighborhood. This current rezoning was no different.

It is important that the citizens know all of the facts when it comes to details about the actions and decisions made by their elected officials. The Sub-Area 14 Plan created by citizens for Hermitage and Donelson is being chopped up and destroyed by a councilman who refuses to respect the plan and his constituents. This has got to stop!! Remember, we have an election in August.

Bobbie Forrest
Hermitage

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Harold screws us again

Well, Mr. White screwed his constituents again. The only good that may come of this is that he will be booted from his post.

They approved the building.

It's all about the money. Tygard brought up that the council should remember the tax base. I understand that, as White pointed out in the May 7 community meeting, the city is in need of money. So that means we destroy the look and feel of our communities?? So be it, but don't freakin' ask us want we want!! Don't waste our time developing a sub-area plan if you're not going to follow it!!!! Just do what you want!!! Quit wasting OUR time!!!!!

Another fun fact: Tonight Harold said that their were "six" people at the May 7 community meeting. Well, let me ask you, Harold, do you think the community is psychic? Do you think they just automatically show up? NO, you have to put some effort into inviting them!!! Like we did!!!! And, I'm sorry, but I've been too freakin' too busy to do your job for you.

Thanks again to Council Lady Tucker who spoke her mind, spent her time and cares about us!

Mr. Loring already says that we are "in the heart of a medical district". WELL, GET READY!!! Because this building is only the first. Now that the've set the precedent say good bye to our small community.