Germantown Board of Mayor and Aldermen – September 8, 2025

The Germantown Board of Mayor and Aldermen met Monday, September 8, 2025, beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Germantown Municipal Building, 1930 S. Germantown Road. After opening remarks, staff recognitions for the 52nd annual Germantown Festival, an invocation, and the Pledge of Allegiance, the board set the agenda, approved minutes, heard one citizen, convened as the Beer Board for a temporary beer permit hearing, approved a three-item consent agenda, and took final action on one rezoning ordinance.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda was approved by roll-call vote without separate discussion: Change Order No. 2 for Miller Farms Ditch Improvements ($30,870); Change Order No. 2 for Riverdale Park Reinvestment Phase II ($21,208); and the purchase of GAC and GPAC mechanical equipment replacements ($64,607). The three approved items total $116,685.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Kathy Anderson, 7379 Belleville Drive, a 40-plus-year Germantown resident and commercial real estate professional, expressed concern about what she described as a growing tenant/landlord problem in her neighborhood. She described recent incidents, including a SWAT/police standoff of two to three hours near her home, a separate police response involving drugs and a stolen car at a neighboring rental, and an incident in which dogs charged at her; the tenant said he paid extra rent to have a pet. She cited Germantown nuisance ordinance Sections 11.3 and 11.4, noted the property owner can be liable for nuisances regardless of who caused them, and mentioned Seattle's chronic nuisance ordinance as a possible model.
• The Mayor responded that the city is aware of large equity firms buying rental properties, noted that Vice Mayor Gibson and Alderman Hicks have taken a state-level leadership role, and said the rental registry bill he and Vice Mayor Gibson worked on through the Tennessee Municipal League did not advance because of opposition from the real estate profession but may be brought back. He also said Germantown has strong nuisance ordinances, strengthened after residential properties were used for ticketed parties, and offered to meet with Anderson for further input.

Beer Board Public Hearing – Temporary Beer Permit

• The Beer Board held a public hearing on a temporary beer permit application from Kappa Alpha Order UT Martin Alumni Chapter for on-premise beer sales at its 50th anniversary convivium on September 20, 2025, from 6 to 11 p.m. at the Great Hall and Conference Center. Clerk Betty confirmed the application, proof of not-for-profit status, and public hearing notice were in the packet. No public speakers came forward for or against the request.
• Applicant Clint Cummins, 2562 Meadow Run, Germantown, said roughly three-fourths of attendees would be alumni and about 25 percent would be undergraduate students. Alderman Sanders supported the application, noting the state had issued a special occasion permit and that three state-licensed servers were identified; he asked for vigilance in serving. Vice Mayor Gibson and Alderman Hicks welcomed the event. The board approved the permit unanimously.

Discussion Items

• Ordinance 2025-6, third and final reading: rezoning 2385 Johnson Road from RE Residential Estate to RE-1 Residential Estate. Economic and Community Development Director Cameron Ross presented the request for the property, a single-family home developed in 1973 on just over 26 acres with a large pond, located south of Dogwood Road and north of Gwenhallow Cove, across from Spring Hollow. The change would apply to the entire frontage, reduce the lot minimum from two acres to one acre, and align with zoning north and south of the site. The concept plan shows roughly 17 lots and preserves the pond; the applicant plans to file with the Planning Commission after approval.
• Ross stated the application meets the Forward 2035 land use and transportation objective related to positive trends in assessed value of residential areas. Alderman Salvaggio praised the applicants for working with staff, the Planning Commission, and neighbors, and noted preserving the lake is important to the property's history. Vice Mayor Gibson echoed praise for the applicant's proactive work with neighbors on traffic and lake concerns. Alderman Sanders cited adjacent one-acre zoning on three sides; Alderman Hicks cited significant population changes in the area; and Alderman Ulicky cited adjacent zoning. The motion, seconded by Vice Mayor Gibson, carried unanimously on third reading.

Key Outcomes

• Agenda for September 8, 2025, approved unanimously; minutes of the August 25, 2025 regular meeting approved unanimously.
• Temporary beer permit approved for Kappa Alpha Order UT Martin Alumni Chapter.
• Consent agenda items approved, totaling $116,685.
• Ordinance 2025-6 approved on third and final reading, rezoning 2385 Johnson Road from RE to RE-1; next step is an application to the Planning Commission.
• The meeting adjourned after completing the regular agenda.