A series of open houses for the Recode Knoxville zoning code update will be held May 16-19. Community members who would like to know more about the first draft of the code are invited to stop in, share comments and talk directly with the project team in an informal setting. 

Displays will be set up to explain various components of the draft, and brief presentations are scheduled each day. For anyone unable to attend the open houses, there are two additional meetings that are open to the public.

The open houses and meetings are scheduled for different times and locations each day to provide several opportunities for interested community members to attend:

Recode Community Open House 1
Wednesday, May 16: 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. (presentations @ 9 a.m. and noon)
Public Works Service Center, 3131 Morris Ave.

Stakeholder Advisory Committee Meeting
Wednesday, May 16: 2-3:30 p.m. 
Small Assembly Room, City County Building, 400 Main St.

City Council Work Session 
Wednesday, May 16: 5:30-7:30 p.m. 
Main Assembly Room, City County Building, 400 Main St.

Recode Community Open House 2
Thursday, May 17: 3 p.m.-7:30 p.m. (presentations @ 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.)
Church of the Good Shepherd, 5409 Jacksboro Pike

Recode Community Open House 3
Friday, May 18: 7:30-11:30 a.m. (presentations @ 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.) 
Oakwood Lincoln Park Club House, 916 Shamrock Ave.

Recode Community Open House 4
Saturday, May 19: 9 a.m.-noon (presentation @ 10:30 a.m.)
Overcoming Believers Church, 211 Harriet Tubman St.

“We encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity to speak one-on-one with staff and the consultants at the upcoming open houses,” said Gerald Green, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Planning Commission. 

“All comments received by May 21 will help us craft the second draft. Both it and a draft zoning map will be available later this summer, and the final draft of the ordinance will be presented to Knoxville City Council before the end of the year.”

Knoxville’s zoning code hasn’t undergone a thorough review in nearly 60 years, and this update will allow the City to adopt modern standards. It also will help protect and enhance Knoxville’s sense of place over the next few decades. 

Knox County is projected to add 170,000 residents by 2040, and this update of the City’s zoning ordinance will help prepare the community for that growth by striking a balance between protecting historic characteristics of neighborhoods and creating standards that encourage dynamic growth. It will encourage investment, protect valued community assets, and support connectivity among people and places. 

For more information, please contact Gerald Green at 865-215-3758 or [email protected]. You can also sign up to receive updates on the project at www.recodeknoxville.com.  

Anyone needing a disability accommodation to attend the open houses, Stakeholder Advisory Committee meeting or City Council work session should contact the City’s ADA Coordinator, Stephanie Cook, at [email protected] or 865-215-2034. For an English interpreter, contact the City Law Department at 865-215-2050.