Amid the wide-ranging battle between Cheekwood Estate and Gardens and the residents of nearby Belle Meade Highlands, the Metropolitan Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) met Thursday to answer a single, narrow question: Did zoning administrator Joey Hargis err in granting Cheekwood a permit to build an on-site parking garage in May 2026?
During the hearing, several board members said this issue of the parking garage and Cheekwood’s zoning will probably come before them again soon. On this particular matter, the board upheld Hargis’ decision. All five voting members agreed, with two having recused themselves.
Representing the Neighbors for Safety (NFS), a coalition of citizens challenging the garage and Cheekwood’s zoning status, attorney Chanelle Acheson argued that Cheekwood has not complied with the “non-assembly cultural center” status and zoning exception it was granted in 1996…