The fifth  draft of the Recode Knoxville proposed zoning ordinance is now available on the project website at www.recodeknoxville.com. In addition to the draft ordinance, a fourth draft of the map showing the proposed citywide zoning is posted on the website. 

To consider the comprehensive update to the zoning code, City Council has called a special meeting at 3 p.m. Tuesday, May 14, 2019, in the Main Assembly Room of the City County Building, 400 Main St.

Knoxville-Knox County Planning staff are accepting comments on the final drafts through Friday, May 10, 2019. Comments will continue to be accepted and reviewed after that date, though they will not be addressed at the City Council meeting.

The Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission voted to send the updated ordinance to City Council for consideration on Jan. 10, 2019. Since then, Council has held three workshops focused solely on Recode. The final draft ordinance and draft map reflect changes requested by City Council that came out of those workshops. Changes also have been made based on public feedback throughout the entire project, which began two years ago. Outreach efforts have included more than 80 public meetings, two surveys, two KUB billing inserts, and notices mailed to every property owner. 

“This process has provided a great opportunity to engage with residents and learn what they want their city to look like in the future,” said Knoxville-Knox County Planning Executive Director Gerald Green. “We have received more than 1,500 general and map specific comments, and the ongoing dialogue with the community has helped us balance preservation and growth in the final draft ordinance.”

This is the first time in nearly 60 years that Knoxville’s zoning code has gone through a comprehensive update. The goals of the update are to protect valued community assets, support connectivity among people and places, and encourage investment. The new code will allow the City to adopt modern standards and protect and enhance its sense of place in the years to come. 

For more information and to view the final draft ordinance and map, visit www.recodeknoxville.com. To submit comments or contact staff, send an email to [email protected].