NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Residents in three Metro Nashville districts are invited to come to a joint community meeting to discuss proposed housing legislation in the Metro Council.

According to Metro Councilwomen Joy Kimbrough (District 1), Kyonzte Toombs (District 2), and Jennifer Gamble (District 3), the meeting will cover several pieces of proposed legislation that will affect housing and zoning in Nashville. The meeting will also see Lead Planning Manager Greg Claxton in attendance to answer resident questions.

The meeting is set for 6-7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29, at Whites Creek High School, located at 7277 Old Hickory Blvd.

BL2025-1005, 1006, 1007, and 1008 all pertain to different pieces of the housing and zoning puzzle in Metro Nashville.

BL2025-1005 creates two new zoning districts: Residential Neighborhood (RN) and Residential Limited (RL), according to CM Gamble.

The new zones "enable gentle density that transitions from corridors to neighborhoods through middle housing and creates standards for housing types currently not listed in the zoning code." Home styles such as townhomes, house courts, three- and four-unit plex houses, and low-rise flats could be included in these zonings.

BL2025-1006 would amend the Metro Code to "simplify and improve design quality standards pertaining to height within the Single-Family Residential (RS) and the one- and two-family residential (R) zoning districts, Gamble said in a recent newsletter.

"For example, the change would limit building heights within RS and R districts to 2.5 stories instead of 3 stories to fit within the height characteristics of many existing single- and two-family neighborhoods throughout Nashville and Davidson County," Gamble wrote in the newsletter.

BL2025-1007 will amend the current regulations pertaining to what's called a detached accessory dwelling unit, or DADU. The legislation will expand the allowable use as a base code allowance, instead of adding an overlay, within the R and RS districts in the Urban Services District.

It will also permit the DADU Overlay to be applied to properties within the General Services District and create design standards for setback and bulk size and massing of the DADU based on the size of the lot.

Finally, BL2025-1008 will establish a Voluntary Attainable Housing Incentive Program, which will offer certain incentives to property owners who build multi-family attainable housing. Under the proposed program, a property owner may add additional housing units to a project without a zoning entitlement if a minimum of 10% of the units are set aside for residents qualifying at 80% or below the area median income.

“I appreciate the work of the Planning Department and the input from the community which led to the recommendation of this slate of legislation,” Gamble said in her newsletter. “I believe these bills are a good first step toward addressing the affordable housing crisis in Nashville through a data driven approach that includes a diversity of housing options for residents at different stages of life and income levels. I look forward to continuing discussions with the community about the proposed Title 17 Text Amendments as they move through the Planning Commission and Metro Council evaluation process.”

BL2025-1005 is set for discussion and vote at the next Metro Council meeting on Thursday, Oct. 9.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/middle-tn-neighborhood-news/joint-community-meeting-housing/