Important Update
Alert: Demand Letter sent to the Army Corps
Important Update regarding the Foxland Harbor Marina Project
Friends of Old Hickory Lake, through legal counsel, has formally demanded that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers prepare a Supplemental Environmental Assessment (SEA) for the Foxland Harbor Marina project. The letter explains that the Corps’ 2024 Environmental Assessment (EA) and 2025 Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) are legally deficient under NEPA and Corps regulations.
Why a Supplemental EA Is Required
1. The Corps did not conduct an independent NEPA review.
• The Corps relied almost entirely on a developer‑written draft EA, rather than performing its own analysis.
• There is no evidence the Corps verified the developer’s claims or evaluated alternatives raised during public comment.
• 87% of commenters opposed or expressed concern about the marina, yet this overwhelming public input is not reflected in the EA or FONSI.
2. The EA is based on unreliable and outdated data.
• The market study used to justify the marina was prepared by a consultant hired by the developer, creating a conflict of interest.
• The study relied on COVID‑era boating data (2019–2022), which artificially inflated demand.
• Current public data from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency shows boating registrations declining, not increasing.
• Corps regulations require use of reliable, unbiased data, which the Corps failed to obtain or consider.
3. The EA contradicts the developer’s public claims about dredging.
• Developers repeatedly told city officials and residents that no dredging would be needed.
• The Corps’ own EA states that maintenance dredging will likely be required due to sediment from Station Camp Creek.
• This environmental impact was never fully analyzed.
4. The alternatives analysis is legally inadequate.
• “Alternative 3” is essentially the same as the preferred alternative, except for 22 fewer slips.
• NEPA requires meaningful alternatives, not cosmetic variations.
• The Corps failed to evaluate reasonable alternatives proposed by the public.
5. The project has materially changed since the EA was issued.
• Over the past year, the developer has pushed the City of Gallatin to amend its master development plan to accommodate a significantly altered marina design.
• Under Corps regulations, substantial changes relevant to environmental concerns require a supplemental environmental review.
The project now before the city is not the same project the Corps evaluated in 2024.
Accordingly, we demanded that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:
1. Suspend any and all permitting activities related to the Marina until NEPA compliance is achieved through a supplemental EA;
2. Prepare and circulate a Supplemental EA (or environmental impact statement, if now warranted) analyzing reasonable alternatives, mitigation, and regulatory compliance with, but not limited to, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Environmental Protection Act; and
3. Provide public notice and opportunity for comment consistent with NEPA and Corps regulations.
4. Confirm in writing within 30 days the U.S. Army Corps’ intention to comply with these requirements of law.
Should the U.S. Army Corps fail to do so, this will leave Friends of Old Hickory Lake no alternative but to pursue all available legal remedies, including injunctive relief.
Please let us know if you have any questions.
Concerned Citizens of the Foxland Harbor Marina Project
Ethics Commission Hearing Rescheduled - Important details below
Subject: Ethics Commission Hearing Rescheduled – Your Voice Matters
Dear Friends of Old Hickory Lake,
We want to inform you of an important update regarding the ethics complaint filed by Gallatin resident Pam Farino. The Tennessee Ethics Commission was originally scheduled to review this matter on December 2, 2025, but the hearing has now been rescheduled for February 3, 2026.
This hearing will include review of Case No. C2025‑009, which addresses Ms. Farino’s sworn complaint regarding the Statements of Interest submitted by Councilmen Paul Jones, Craig Hayes, Steven Carter, and Steve Fann. The complaint alleges that these filings failed to meet state requirements for disclosing sources of income and investment interests—information intended to protect the public from undisclosed conflicts of interest.
📅 New Hearing Date & Location
• February 3, 2026 at 9:30 AM (CST)
• Nashville Room, Tennessee Tower Conference Center
312 Rosa L. Parks Avenue, Nashville, TN 37243
Why This Matters
The citizens of Gallatin deserve elected officials who follow the law and are transparent in their dealings. The Ethics Commission has the authority to levy fines on those who violate these requirements. It is critical that the Commission take appropriate action to uphold accountability.
We strongly encourage you to contact the Ethics Commission’s Executive Director, Bill Young, regarding this complaint before the February 3 meeting and urge him to ensure the Commission enforces the law in this matter:
Why Your Attendance Matters
Our lake communities have shown time and again that when we show up—calmly, respectfully, and in numbers—decision‑makers take notice. Transparency in public service is essential to maintaining trust, especially as Gallatin faces significant development pressures.
By attending this hearing, and contacting the Ethics Commission you send a powerful message: the people of Old Hickory Lake are paying attention and expect integrity from their elected officials.
FAQ: Who Must File a Statement of Interest in Tennessee?
• General Assembly members, the Governor, cabinet-level staff, constitutional officers – by April 15 each year. [T.C.A. § 2-10-128]
• Local elected officials and members of local planning commissions – by January 31 each year. [T.C.A. § 8-50-504]
• A Statement of Interests must be filed by anyone in an elected office or appointed to an office that is normally elected, regardless of whether the position is part-time or full-time.
You can read more about this issue in The Gallatin News.
Thank you for your continued commitment to protecting our community and our shared values. Together, we can ensure that Gallatin’s leaders uphold the standards of transparency and accountability that our citizens deserve.
Sincerely,
Friends of Old Hickory Lake
Our Path Forward
Update on Foxland Harbor Marina Decision
Friends of Old Hickory Lake,
On October 7, the Gallatin City Council approved—by a narrow 4–2 vote—the amended preliminary master development plan for the Foxland Harbor Marina project. This approval came after more than three hours of public comment from residents, civic groups, and legal counsel raising concerns about traffic, short-term rentals, and shoreline impacts, as well as clarifying what the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) does and does not regulate.
The city added six important conditions to the development, including:
• No outdoor storage anywhere on the site
• A required roundabout at Douglas Bend Road, which must be completed before key building or occupancy permits issue
• Modified boat-ramp access to limit unsafe traffic movements
• Stricter rules on signage—no neon signs the developer kept flashing in public meetings
• Relocation of dumpsters away from neighborhood roads
• Clarification that all conceptual images must still meet zoning rules
A USACE letter read during the meeting reaffirmed that the Corps’ oversight applies only to construction on federal property and that any changes to the federal lease area must be coordinated with its real estate office. This is important because the developer's plan does not match the lease agreement he signed with the Army Corps of Engineers.
Many residents—including Friends of Old Hickory Lake—spoke against the scale and intensity of the proposal. Residents urged delays until traffic and Corps documentation could be fully resolved. Attorney Tom Lee recommended removing the two mixed-use buildings to reduce traffic and short-term-rental pressure.
Developer Bob Goodall argued the project will be a neighborhood amenity and stated that condo units would require 12-month minimum leases, while the mixed-use buildings would have professionally managed shorter leases with quiet-hours enforcement. The threat of short-term rentals not only remains, Goodall virtually promised them.
City planning staff also addressed technical discrepancies—such as differing slip counts in Corps versus developer documents—and confirmed that the project still requires additional permits, detailed plan reviews, and federal coordination before any work affecting Corps-controlled lake property can proceed.
What’s next:
The developer must now complete required traffic improvements, secure city permits, and coordinate with USACE wherever federal property is involved. Future design, environmental safeguards, and marina operations will all undergo further administrative review. The city’s planning process is not over. Goodall must return to the Planning Commission and, potentially, City Council for final approval of his plans. As of this writing, the developer did not submit his revised plans for consideration at the December Planning Commission meeting.
We will continue monitoring and sharing updates as this moves forward.
Next Steps
We need your support to oppose the proposed Foxland Harbor Marina Project, a private development that would take over public land currently managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE). The plan includes 112 condominiums, 200+ boat slips, retail shops, and restaurants—built directly on the site of the Station Camp Creek Boat Ramp at Douglas Bend Road and Gallatin Pike. This current proposal is over-sized for the area at the intersection of Douglas Bend Road and Nashville Pike.
This area is one of the last public access points to Old Hickory Lake in Sumner County. It is a popular space for boating, fishing, kayaking, and shoreline recreation. The ACOE is currently conducting a Scoping Study to evaluate safety, environmental, and economic impacts. A decision on the project will be made soon.
Our Concerns:
Loss of Public Access: The ramp serves hundreds of residents and visitors. There is no plan for maintaining access during or after construction.
Environmental Harm: The area supports bald eagles, herons, otters, and other wildlife. Dredging, fuel docks, and waste stations threaten the health of the lake.
Safety Risks: Adding 200+ slips in an already crowded inlet increases boating hazards. Traffic congestion and emergency access on the peninsula would worsen.
We are calling for your signature to help ensure these concerns are fully considered. This project risks turning a valuable public resource into a congested and polluted private marina.
Let us work together to preserve the Station Camp Creek Boat Ramp for safe, clean, and open public use.
Thank you for your support. Please sign our petition, tell your friends, and follow us on our website, www.friendsofoldhickorylake.com
CONTACT YOUR MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL AND
LET THEM KNOW YOU OPPOSE THIS PLAN!
Call Mayor Brown and the City Council here and let them know your opposition to this commercial enterprise in the middle of Douglass Bend, Fairvue, and Foxland neighborhoods.
Our cove can't handle the boat traffic and our roads can't handle the vehicle traffic.
Mayor and City Council Mayor Paige Brown: paige.brown@gallatintn.gov | 615-451-5961 Craig Hayes (District 4): craig.hayes@gallatintn.gov | 615-347-8677 Shawn Fennell (Council At-Large): shawn.fennell@gallatintn.gov | 615-426-2011 Steve Fann (Council At-Large): 615-967-6885 Paul Jones (District 1): paul.jones@gallatintn.govTodd Alexander (District 2): todd.alexander@gallatintn.govPascal Jouvence (District 3): pascal.jouvence@gallatintn.gov | 615-983-2663 Steven Carter (District 5): steven.carter@gallatintn.gov | 615-483-6549
Sign our petition:
https://www.change.org/.../stop-foxland-harbor-marina-110...
Listen here to the October 7, 2025 meeting
In the News
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On May 19, dressed in red to show unity, more than 100 members of Friends of Old Hickory Lake attended the City of Gallatin Planning Commission meeting to voice strong opposition to Bob Goodall’s proposed expansion of the Foxland Harbor Marina. The plan includes a five-story commercial dry-dock storage facility, an eight-story hotel, a restaurant, a convenience market, and six condominiums - placed directly in the center of our residential neighborhoods and Foxland Harbor.
The city's planning staff presented their report to the Planning Commission and recommended several modifications to Mr. Goodall’s amendment. You can read the full staff report beginning on page 279 at the link provided below.
Even with the recommended changes, this proposal remains completely unacceptable to the residents and neighbors of Gallatin. Our attorney, Mr. Tom Lee of Nelson Mullins Scarborough and Riley, delivered a thorough statement to the commission outlining the community's concerns and legal objections.
May 19th Planning Commission Meeting
Listen to the May 19 Planning Commission here: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDVg3lWMQow
Public Comments starts at 3:30 ends at 24:40
-Item 17 Discussion Foxland Harbor Marina Amended PMDP Public Comments starts at 1:7:55 ends at 1:33:15
Item 17 Discussion Foxland Harbor Marina Amended PMDP Applicant / Developer Comments & Board Discussion starts at 1:33:25 ends 2:10:35
May 5, 2025 Planning Commission Work Meeting
Monday night, May 5, 2025, developer Bob Goodall’s engineering team appeared before the Gallatin Planning Commission to propose an amendment to their master plan for the Foxland Harbor Marina. The amendment includes a 110-key hotel, 20 condos, a restaurant, a ship-store, additional parking, and updated building requirements for the commercial dry dock structure. A key request was to increase the building height standard from 35 feet to 55 feet for the dry dock facility.
Several members of our team—Mike Schulte, Joseph Slawek, and Debra Maggart—attended the meeting and spoke during the citizen comments portion of the agenda.
Watch or listen to the meeting here: https://www.youtube.com/live/bz4wQqklddg?si=CZHeAEPwerYzm7im - Citizen comments begin at 4:00 - Planning Commission discussions begin at 1:48:00
Take Action
Let your elected and appointed officials know you oppose this project!
Email the City Planning Commission here
Call Mayor Paige Brown & City Council contact info here -
Sign Our Petition
Join over 1500 neighbors who oppose this project and sign our petition here.
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