Tennessee bill makes it easier to approve racetrack plan

Flashback: In 2011, Davidson County voters approved a charter amendment that required at least 27 council members to sign off on the demolition of buildings at the fairgrounds. The referendum was held following then-Mayor Karl Dean's push to demolish the racetrack and redevelop the fairgrounds.

• The spirit of that referendum was to preserve the historic racetrack, but the charter amendment became a clear hurdle for Cooper's new renovation plan.

State of play: Thanks to a state bill approved this week, it will be easier for the plan to pass.

• It lowers the vote threshold needed to approve a racetrack renovation from 27 votes to a majority. Since there are currently 39 council members, Cooper would need at most 20 votes in support to approve his plan.
• The measure is awaiting Lee's signature.

Details: Cooper proposes funding the plan through tax revenue generated at the racetrack, investment from the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corp. and rent payments by NASCAR powerhouse Bristol Motor Speedway.