Metro Council on Tuesday approved strict new regulations for data centers in Nashville, but a top city zoning official says they don't apply to a controversial project planned near the Nashville Zoo.

• The city also paused approving any new data centers until Dec. 1.

Why it matters: DC Blox appears to have the legal footing to move forward with its controversial plans for a medium-sized, 10-megawatt data center, though the moratorium will apparently delay construction for several months.

Driving the news: Council approved new regulations that ban giant data centers in Nashville, and restrict where smaller ones can go by imposing buffers in residential areas and along busy roads.

• Council also approved the temporary moratorium proposed by Councilmember Courtney Johnston.

Yes, but: Tennessee law protects the DC Blox project, according to a letter sent this week from the Metro Zoning Administrator Joel Hargis to members of the city's Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA).

• "The proposed land uses being considered by the Council is not applicable to this project due to Tennessee's Vested Rights Statues," Hargis told the board in his Tuesday letter.
• The law says a permit must be considered based on the regulations in place at the time of its application. DC Blox has already applied for demolition, grading and building permits.

State of play: The city initially designated the DC Blox property as general office use. That designation triggered two appeals — one from Johnston and one from an attorney for the zoo — to the BZA.

• In his Tuesday letter, Hargis said he amended the classification for the DC Blox property from office use to warehouse with incidental general office.
• Both warehouse and office uses are allowed under the current zoning for the DC Blox property, according to Hargis' letter.

The other side: Johnston tells Axios she disagrees with Hargis' opinion that the DC Blox proposal is already vested.

• "A massive, power-intensive digital infrastructure facility is not a general office or a warehouse," she says. "Telecommunications was the closest use in our existing code, and it comes with conditions. You can't simply choose a more convenient classification to avoid those protections."

What's next: The moratorium approved by the council also paused BZA hearings for data center-related appeals until December.

• Council also advanced Mayor Freddie O'Connell's proposal to use eminent domain to condemn and take ownership of the DC Blox property. DC Blox closed on the $23 million sale last week.
• The eminent domain legislation will be up for final council approval next month.

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Johnny Cash's handwritten song lyrics, letters to other artists and personal musings will soon be available for fans to peruse thanks to his family's new partnership with Belmont University.

Why it matters: Cash's personal archives offer a unique understanding of one of the pillars of American popular music. Belmont recently acquired the trove and plans to make the collection available online.

State of play: The archival collection, which comes from Cash's children, will anchor Belmont's new Johnny Cash Learning Center, located within their upcoming building on Music Row.

• The center will be a hub for student research and will feature an archival exhibit.

How it works: Students and researchers will be able to review Cash's writings by appointment in a secure room. Belmont will also digitize archival material so fans all over the world can see it.

Between the lines: The archives were an $8.6 million acquisition bankrolled by donations from music executives Scott and Sandi Borchetta, longtime Belmont benefactors Mike and Linda Curb, and the Harper House Music Foundation.

The bottom line: "There is no parallel for what this means for our students and scholars," said Belmont dean Brittany Schaffer (who is also the incoming CEO for the Country Music Association).

• "Direct access to the personal papers and lyrics of one of the most important artists in American history is something most institutions can only dream of."

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🗳️ Voting is starting strong in the Aug. 6 primary, which includes multiple Republicans running for governor. More than 122,000 Tennesseans have already cast their ballots during early voting — a 50% jump in turnout compared to the same point in the 2022 primary. (WKRN)

• Read more about the election

🔍 The Memphis district attorney will not pursue charges after a DEA agent on the Memphis Safe Task Force fatally shot an employee inside a Burger King.

• The case is one of four fatal shootings this year by officers on the task force. (Tennessee Lookout)

🥪 The Italian deli Little Hats Market is expanding again, with a Gallatin location opening today. (Tennessean)

CMA Fest is switching to SeatGeek as a ticketing partner under a new multi-year deal that will change how fans buy tickets to the country music festival.

Why it matters: The move is a blow to the festival's previous ticketing partner Ticketmaster and expands SeatGeek's Nashville presence.

Zoom out: SeatGeek has already served as the ticketing partner for Nissan Stadium and the Tennessee Titans since 2023.

• In a statement, the company said "the addition of CMA Fest" would now tie SeatGeek to "one of the stadium's biggest annual event weekends."

How it works: Fans will need a SeatGeek account to buy CMA Fest tickets, browse seating and manage their orders.

What's next: Tickets to the 2027 CMA Fest, which will move into the new Nissan Stadium, go on sale through SeatGeek on Aug. 14.

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