DPD To Hold January Meetings

The Division of Planning and Development (DPD) says they will begin holding planning district meetings in January, sharing all new zoning and land use maps, including all-new zoning districts.  DPD is refusing to make these maps and new zoning regulations available to citizens and neighborhoods so we can understand how their proposed future land uses will change every neighborhood of Midtown.

These maps will shape major planning decisions across the city.  The most prevalent present zoning district in Midtown, R-6 Single Family, is proposed to be eliminated and replaced with RN-1 which allows duplex, cottage courts and pocket-neighborhoods by right.  RU-1 is also eliminated and replaced by RN-2 which allows duplex and several more forms of multi-family housing.

The single-family zoning that protects established single-family neighborhoods and that does not allow multi-family by right--a new district labeled "RS"-- is absent completely from Midtown. But "RS" zoning dominates East Memphis. In the transition, zoning in East Memphis does not essentially change, but even "single family" zoning in South Memphis, Midtown and North Memphis changes radically.

At this time, no public Planning District meeting dates have been announced. Despite that, DPD has told us they intend to submit the final plan to City Council in March, with a vote anticipated in April.

MidtownMemphis.org is calling for full public transparency. We are urging the City to release all zoning and land use information to the public and to provide a minimum of two months for community review with a feedback period to follow, before the proposal moves forward to City Council.

Community voices matter—and meaningful public engagement requires both access and time.