Bristol meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Bristol boards weigh alley, beer, and zoning items; no decisions yet

Recent Bristol board meetings were heavy on agenda items but light on final decisions, as minutes from the Aug. 17, 19, and 20 meetings have not yet been published. The most consequential item is a recommendation to abandon an unopened alley near Broad and 24th Streets, which the Planning Commission is expected to forward to City Council.

Planning Commission (Aug. 17)

The commission's agenda included a recommendation to abandon an unopened alley right-of-way connecting to 24th Street and running parallel between Broad and Anderson Streets. Staff recommends a favorable recommendation to City Council, citing no public infrastructure in the area and favorable public comments. The outcome of the commission's vote is not yet known.

The agenda also covered several ongoing items:

• **Junkyard compliance:** A property owner meeting was held June 25, 2026. Non-compliant properties are to receive summonses after July 25, 2026.
• **Data center ordinance:** Continued review, with discussion on removing data centers from the B-3 district or allowing them with size limits via a special use permit.
• **Recreational substance retail ordinance:** Previously amended to increase separation from 1,000 to 1,500 feet; awaiting final City Council approval.
• **City Council update:** Rezoning at 308 Glenwood Drive passed first reading; a road renaming of Exide Drive to Limestone Ridge Road did not pass.

Beer Board (Aug. 19)

The Beer Board considered a temporary on-premises beer permit application from The Birthplace of Country Music, Inc. at 17 6th Street. The agenda also included approval of minutes from the July 15, 2026 meeting and a public comment period. No other business was listed.

Board of Zoning Appeals (Aug. 20)

The Board of Zoning Appeals had two variance requests on its agenda:

• **113 Meadowood Drive** – variance request.
• **220 Earhart Road** – variance for a large accessory structure in the front yard, including size and setback variances.

The board also planned to elect a Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary, approve minutes from April 16, 2026, and receive a training update on current hours status.

Coming up

The Industrial Development Board meets today, Aug. 24, at a time to be confirmed. The agenda is primarily informational, with presentations from USDA Rural Development (led by Director Allen Hawk) and UT-CIS (by Mark Sebby). Local partners NETWORKS, BTES, and Bristol Tennessee City Schools will also provide updates. The board will consider approving the July 27, 2026 minutes and the July 31, 2026 financial report, which shows an ending balance of $55,677.06 and an investment balance of $113,547.67. No major decisions or contracts are listed.

Bristol City Council, boards take up zoning, personnel, and economic development items

Over the past two weeks, Bristol's City Council and Industrial Development Board met to consider zoning changes, a personnel policy, and economic development updates. No meeting minutes have been published yet, so no decisions are confirmed.

Industrial Development Board (July 27)

The Industrial Development Board received a presentation from Oak Ridge National Laboratory on industrial partnerships and economic development. Jesse Smith, the lab's Manager of Industrial Partnerships and Economic Development, presented. The board also heard updates from state and local partners: Derick Driskill (State of Tennessee), Clay Walker (NETWORKS), and April Eads (BTES). The board approved the June 22, 2026 meeting minutes and reviewed its financial report for the month ending June 30, 2026.

City Council special called meeting (July 28)

The City Council held a special called meeting to consider two resolutions:

• Resolution 26-115: Amended and restated Personnel Policy for the City of Bristol
• Resolution 26-116: Filling a vacancy on the City Council for the East Councilmanic District

The agenda included a public comment period and no other business.

City Council work session (July 28)

Later the same day, the council held a work session to discuss several items:

• Bristol Public Library appropriation increase
• Budget amendment
• Skatepark agreement
• Aquatics facility agreement
• City Council vacancy discussion
• Updates on the Zaidi Property TIF and BRIDGE

No votes were taken at the work session.

City Council regular meeting (August 4)

The City Council held public hearings and considered votes on several ordinances and resolutions:

• Ordinance 26-9: Zoning map amendment for 308 Glenwood Rd to B-3
• Ordinance 26-12: Extend temporary moratorium on permanent campgrounds
• Ordinance 26-13: Regulate recreational substance retail uses
• Resolution 26-117: Skatepark design services with Pillar Design Studios, LLC (amount not specified in agenda)
• Resolution 26-118: Economic impact study with Clark Nexsen (amount not specified in agenda)

The agenda also included grant acceptances for transit and recreation projects.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are scheduled in the next two weeks.

Bristol Boards Set Agenda on Personnel Policy, Council Vacancy, and Library Funding

City Council: East District Vacancy and Personnel Policy on the Agenda

Bristol's City Council had two meetings scheduled for July 28. A special called meeting was set to consider Resolution 26-115, an amended and restated Personnel Policy for the City of Bristol, and Resolution 26-116, filling a vacancy on the City Council for the East Councilmanic District. The agenda included a public comment period, with no other business scheduled.

A separate work session the same day was set to review a Bristol Public Library appropriation increase, a budget amendment, a skatepark agreement, an aquatics facility agreement, and updates on the Zaidi Property TIF and BRIDGE. The council vacancy was also listed for discussion.

Minutes for both meetings have not yet been published, so outcomes are not yet available.

Industrial Development Board: Oak Ridge National Lab Presentation Scheduled

The Industrial Development Board met July 27 to receive a presentation from Jesse Smith, Manager of Industrial Partnerships and Economic Development for Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The agenda also included updates from State of TN representative Derick Driskill, NETWORKS representative Clay Walker, and BTES representative April Eads. The board was scheduled to approve minutes from its June 22, 2026 meeting and review a financial report for the month ending June 30, 2026. Minutes have not yet been published.

Planning Commission: Officers, Subdivision, and Ordinance Discussions

The Bristol Tennessee Municipal-Regional Planning Commission met July 20. The agenda called for election of officers, review of a subdivision concept plan for Meadow View Road, discussion of an ordinance regarding recreational substance retail, discussion on data centers, and a presentation on an Alley Study. Minutes have not yet been published.

Better Property Board: Public Hearing and Property Progress Reports

The Better Property Board met July 23 for a public hearing and progress reports on seven properties: 1500 5th Street, 408 Taylor Street, 2237 Weaver Pike Lot #3, 2910 Bay Street, 510 McDowell Street, 1118 Anderson Street, and 931 Hill Street. Administrative updates included discussion of officer elections and an open board position. The agenda noted no items for the August 27 meeting and set the next meeting for September 24, 2026, with future progress reports scheduled for 1232 Windsor Avenue, 902 Windsor Avenue, and 1230 Shelby Street. Minutes have not yet been published.

Coming Up

The City Council meets August 4 for public hearings and votes on several items, including:

• Ordinance 26-9: Zoning map amendment for 308 Glenwood Rd to B-3
• Ordinance 26-12: Extending a temporary moratorium on permanent campgrounds
• Ordinance 26-13: Regulating recreational substance retail uses
• Resolution 26-117: Skatepark design services with Pillar Design Studios, LLC
• Resolution 26-118: Economic impact study with Clark Nexsen

Dollar amounts for the two resolutions were not specified in the available agenda materials.

Bristol MPO adopts Complete Streets policy; Council and zoning boards set key agendas

MPO Executive Board adopts Complete Streets Policy, backs six SMART SCALE applications

The most consequential decisions of the past two weeks came from the Bristol Metropolitan Planning Organization Executive Board on July 9, 2026. The board unanimously adopted Resolution 26-06, establishing a Complete Streets Policy, and unanimously adopted Resolutions 26-12 through 26-17, endorsing six SMART SCALE Round 7 project applications.

The board also unanimously approved Resolution 26-19, amending the FY 2026-2029 Transportation Improvement Program (Amendment 4), and Resolution 26-20, amending the FY 2026-2027 Unified Planning Work Program (Amendment 9). Minutes from the May 14, 2026 meeting were approved unanimously.

A strategy for developing the FY 2028-2029 UPWP passed on a 5-2 vote, with two abstentions.

City Council agenda covers campgrounds, zoning, police gear, and renaming Exide Drive

The Bristol City Council met July 7, 2026, but minutes have not yet been published, so outcomes are not confirmed. The agenda included public hearings on a Reed Road R-2 rezoning and the Beaver Creek Road plan.

Councilors were scheduled to vote on ordinances extending a moratorium on permanent campgrounds, regulating recreational substance retail businesses, and renaming Exide Drive to Limestone Ridge Road. An ordinance allowing partial property tax payments was also up for adoption, along with an employment agreement with Matt Slagle and an appointment to fill the East District Council vacancy.

A large consent agenda covered funding agreements with nonprofits and numerous police equipment purchases. Because minutes are not yet available, it is not known which items passed.

Board of Zoning Appeals considers setback variance at 113 Meadowood Drive

The Board of Zoning Appeals met July 16, 2026, with minutes not yet published. The agenda called for electing a chair, vice-chair, and secretary.

The board was set to review a variance request for 113 Meadowood Drive, where the applicant seeks a 15-foot reduction of the rear-yard building setback on an R-1A residential lot. Staff recommended denying the request, citing that the ordinance criteria for exceptional hardship are not met. Unscheduled public comments were also on the agenda.

Coming up

• **Planning Commission — July 20, 2026:** Officer elections, a subdivision concept plan review for Meadow View Road, discussion of an ordinance on recreational substance retail and data centers, and a presentation on an Alley Study.
• **Better Property Board — July 23, 2026:** A public hearing, progress reports on seven properties (1500 5th Street, 408 Taylor Street, 2237 Weaver Pike Lot #3, 2910 Bay Street, 510 McDowell Street, 1118 Anderson Street, and 931 Hill Street), and discussion of officer elections and an open board position. The board noted no items for an August 27 meeting and set its next meeting for September 24, 2026.

Bristol meeting roundup: Late-June outcomes still pending; council and MPO set July votes

Bristol residents are waiting on official minutes from three late-June public meetings, so outcomes from those sessions are not yet confirmed. Attention now turns to two upcoming meetings — a July 7 City Council session with several ordinance votes and a July 9 Metropolitan Planning Organization board meeting that could advance regional transportation projects.

Recent meetings: minutes not yet published

The city's online records show agendas for three meetings between June 22 and June 25, but minutes had not been posted as of this roundup. Because the minutes are unavailable, what was actually decided at each meeting cannot be confirmed from the record.

Industrial Development Board (June 22): The agenda listed authorization for a liaison to sign an engagement letter with Brown, Edwards and Company, LLP for an audit, a presentation on Foreign Trade Zones, review of April and May 2026 financial reports, updates from local partners including the State of Tennessee, NETWORKS, BTES, and BTCS, and review of minutes from April 27 and May 20.

City Council (June 23): The agenda included discussion of extending a temporary moratorium on permanent campgrounds, an amendment to the tobacco and vape shop ordinance, a rezone application for Glenwood Road, a Hill Street alley abandonment and study, and filling a vacancy on City Council. Additional agenda items referenced the skate park, Catie's Playground, the Sessions Festival, a construction administration services proposal for the wastewater treatment plant project, a change order for the Shelby Booster Station, and setting retiree dental premiums.

Better Property Board (June 25): The agenda scheduled a public hearing on 1118 Anderson Street and progress reports on 510 McDowell Street, 1232 Windsor Avenue, and 902 Windsor Avenue. It also noted future progress reports for 1500 5th Street, 2237 Weaver Pike Lot #3, and 2910 Bay Street on July 23, 2026.

Coming up: City Council — July 7

The City Council agenda for July 7 includes public hearings on a rezoning for Reed Road (R-2) and the Beaver Creek Road plan. Council members are scheduled to vote on ordinances that would:

• Extend a moratorium on permanent campgrounds.
• Regulate recreational substance retail businesses.
• Rename Exide Drive to Limestone Ridge Road.
• Allow partial property tax payments.

The agenda also lists approval of an employment agreement with Matt Slagle and filling the Council vacancy for the East District. A consent agenda covers funding agreements with nonprofits and numerous police equipment purchases. No vote tallies or dollar amounts were listed in the agenda.

Coming up: MPO Executive Board — July 9

The Bristol Metropolitan Planning Organization Executive Board is scheduled to consider adopting a Complete Streets policy, which the agenda notes was deferred from the May meeting for further review. The board will also vote on resolutions of support for SMART SCALE Round 7 projects, amendments to the Fiscal Years 2026-2029 Transportation Improvement Program (Amendment 4), the FY 2026-2027 Unified Planning Work Program (Amendment 9), and development of the FY 2028-2029 Unified Planning Work Program.

How to follow

• **City Council:** July 7, 2026.
• **MPO Executive Board:** July 9, 2026.

Residents seeking confirmed outcomes from the June 22, 23, and 25 meetings should watch for posted minutes, which will provide the official record of votes and actions taken.

Bristol boards consider campground ban, audit; votes not yet released

Local government boards tackled land-use regulations, audits and code enforcement in recent days, though official minutes have not yet been released. The City Council’s June 23 meeting drew attention for a proposal to extend a temporary moratorium on permanent campgrounds, while the Industrial Development Board prepared to engage an audit firm and the Better Property Board held a public hearing on a troubled property.

Industrial Development Board (June 22)

The board had an agenda that included authorizing a liaison to sign an engagement letter with Brown, Edwards and Company, LLP for audit services. Members were also set to receive a presentation on Foreign Trade Zones, review financial reports for April and May 2026, and hear updates from local partners such as the State of Tennessee, NETWORKS, BTES and BTCS. Minutes from April 27 and May 20 were slated for review.

City Council (June 23)

Council members discussed several items, including an extension of the temporary moratorium on permanent campgrounds and an amendment to the tobacco and vape shop ordinance. A rezone application for Glenwood Road and a study on the abandonment of a Hill Street alley were on the table. The council also considered filling a vacancy in the East District. No votes have been published as of this writing.

Better Property Board (June 25)

The board held a public hearing on the property at 1118 Anderson Street and reviewed progress reports on 510 McDowell Street, 1232 Windsor Avenue and 902 Windsor Avenue. Future progress reports for 1500 5th Street, 2237 Weaver Pike Lot #3 and 2910 Bay Street were scheduled for July 23.

Coming up

• **City Council (July 7)**: Public hearings on a Reed Road rezoning and the Beaver Creek Road plan precede votes on extending the permanent-campground moratorium, regulating recreational-substance retail businesses, renaming Exide Drive to Limestone Ridge Road, and approving an employment agreement with Matt Slagle. The council will also fill the East District vacancy and consider a consent agenda that includes police equipment purchases and funding agreements with nonprofits.
• **MPO Executive Board (July 9)**: The board will take old-business action on a Complete Streets policy deferred from May and vote on resolutions of support for SMART SCALE Round 7 projects. Amendments to the Transportation Improvement Program and the Unified Planning Work Program are on the agenda, along with the FY 2028-2029 UPWP development.