The past year has been a busy one for the City of Forest Hills. Some activities—the construction of a new City Hall for example—are highly visible. Others, like the review and revision of our Zoning Ordinances, less so. This article is an attempt to provide a state of the City report as we look ahead to 2012.
First, it is important to note that we are in excellent financial shape. Before committing to the capital outlay projects described below, the Board of Commissioners employed a financial consultant to build a detailed spreadsheet that would calculate the City’s cash positions based on various income and expenditure assumptions. As actual figures replace budgeted ones the model updates and extends its projections.
So far, we are right on track. With City Hall more than three-quarters paid for and with virtually no other outstanding bills, the City’s cash reserves are more than 40% higher than they were a decade ago.
New City Hall
Since its beginning, the City has occupied the same small office space in Green Hills. It became inadequate long ago with its lack of privacy and storage space. Citizens attending meetings were often without seats and unable to clearly see or hear the presentations or discussions. In addition, it was apparent that as Green Hills continued its upscale redevelopment, it was only a matter of time before our space would at some point be unavailable.
When NES built its substation at the corner of Hillsboro Pike and Old Hickory Boulevard the City was able to negotiate a 99-year ground lease of approximately eight acres adjacent to the NES site for $250 per year. With virtually free land and comfortable cash reserves, the Board of Commissioners voted to build a City Hall in which Forest Hills residents could take pride. Ground was broken in January 2011, the first Commissioners’ meeting was held in December, and an Open House is scheduled for February 2012.
City branding
Several years ago new street signs with a distinctive look and logo were installed throughout the City. A stone entranceway on the southern portion of Hillsboro Pike was built along with a number of stone monuments at key entrances into Forest Hills. This year a complementing stone entrance on the northern portion of Hillsboro Pike was completed. Plans were also finalized to continue the planting of dogwoods and cherry trees along Hillsboro Pike from Tyne to Old Hickory. (In 2010 a similar planting, the gift of Japanese Consul General Hiroshi Suto, was done from Harding Place to South Stanford Drive.)
Contributions
Over the years Forest Hills has supported the Warner Parks, Radnor Lake, and Percy Priest School, all of which benefit our residents. This year the City donated $100,000 to Friends of Radnor Lake to help rebuild trails that were washed out during the floods of 2010; $300,000 to Percy Priest School to help it build a new, million-dollar state-of-the-art library; and $33,000 to Friends of Warner Parks.
Plans and ordinances
In 2008 the City hired consultants to review our existing zoning ordinances with an eye towards protecting our natural and cultural resources while allowing for reasonable development. After meeting with a number of citizen groups, the consultants produced the Green Community Framework Report, which led to a revision of the City’s Comprehensive Plan in January 2010. For the next two years the Planning Commission, with assistance from our City Attorney Matt Foster, City Engineer Brad Bivens, and City Planner Mort Stein, met regularly to review and revise our Zoning Ordinance to match the goals of the Comprehensive Plan. Those revisions are almost completed, and a new Zoning Ordinance will be in place the first of the year.
The City also worked this year to formulate a Hazard Mitigation Plan, which is required to be eligible for FEMA funds in the event of an emergency. Members of the Board of Commissioners, Planning Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, concerned citizens, and staff met regularly with consultant Cindy Popplewell of AMEC to work through the four-step process needed for developing a plan. Work was finished in late fall and the plan has been submitted to FEMA for approval.
City Court
In November retired attorney David McMackin was appointed as Forest Hills’ first judge. Judge McMackin is authorized to hear cases pertaining to Forest Hills’ laws and regulations. While the City has gone to great lengths to adopt regulations and ordinances to ensure that our quality of life remains high, it has no municipal court of its own to enforce those ordinances. Metro General Sessions Courts do not have legal authority to hear these cases, which leaves the City without a cost-effective means of enforcing its regulations.
Metro has sued the City to prevent the formation of our court, citing its belief that the Metro Charter precludes us from doing so. Our City Attorney, and the attorneys hired by the Tennessee Municipal League to represent us, strongly disagree with that theory. The case is currently in Chancery Court and we are pressing for a speedy trial to resolve the issue.
Communications
The City has worked with marketing firm Armour&Armour to develop a new website (www.cityofforesthills.com) that offers residents easier access to more information. The home page offers links to the most requested information, a calendar of events, agendas and minutes from various board meetings, and late breaking news.
There is an opportunity to sign up for electronic delivery of the City newsletter, e-blasts and, with a click, residents can send an e-mail with questions and comments directly to City Hall.
New faces
This year has seen the addition of several new members of the City’s boards. In November, Lanson Hyde III was appointed to the Board of Commissioners to replace Commissioner Tim Douglas, who resigned due to increased business demands. Replacing him on the BZA is Mark Banks.
Summary
It has, in fact, been a busy year. The Board of Commissioners anticipates—indeed looks forward to—a quieter 2012. We will revisit plans to expand our system of bike paths and walking trails and continue with efforts to preserve our City’s open spaces. We do invite all residents to visit our new City Hall, familiarize themselves our new Zoning Ordinance, log onto our website, and enjoy the trees along Hillsboro Pike. As always, we appreciate and encourage any thoughts and comments you have about how to keep Forest Hills such a special place to call home.