Code Overhaul: Chattanooga Gives Nod to New Zoning Protocols to Trim Down Housing Expenses and Expand Choices
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.
— Sweeping changes are happening in the City of Chattanooga as the city’s council authorizes the first comprehensive revision to the zoning codes aiming to diversify the residence options and cut back on housing costs for its citizens.
The new set of zoning ordinances, resultant of three years of painstaking effort, ushers in remarkable flexibility facilitating the construction of more townhouses, multi-family buildings and both single and two-unit homes on smaller lots. This strategic move makes it simpler to construct more affordable housing facilities and bolster housing density in the urban core of Chattanooga.
Interesting Changes in the Landscape of Housing Regulation
The dynamic zoning reform brings in a prominent alteration in permissible lot size for housing development. Where once the former code necessitated a lot to encompass 7,500 sq. Ft for a single house, the revised code brings down this demand to 5,000 sq. Ft only. The city administration sees this as a significant step in augmenting the total supply of housing in areas already equipped with suitable infrastructure and capacity for housing.
The current status marks 75 percent of Chattanooga as R1 or residentially zoned; this will convert to RN1 zoning by the end of November. The fate of the remaining 25% is yet undecided as it could be included under multiple zones.
The Spectrum of Mixed-Use Zones and Promising Developments
The new code incorporates a range of new mixed-use zones, an instrumental concept aimed at rejuvenating corridors namely Brainerd Road, Rossville Boulevard and Highway 58. A bright example of these developments is proposed for East 23rd Street. The new plan outlines converting the largely ignored and underutilized parking lot into a structured complex housing a grocery space with residential facilities at the back and an array of smaller retail stores, along with the parking area.
The revised code permits Suburban developers to construct housing facilities closer to main roads while relocating parking at the rear. Aside from residential projects, it also includes commercial projects, a clear shift likely to stimulate economic expansion and provide residents with more amenities, eventually making Chattanooga an even more appealing place to inhabit and work in.
Benefits of the Rejig
Doug Fisher from the Home Builders Association of Greater Chattanooga weighs in on the benefits the zoning shift brings, “This overhaul heralds the dawn of a new era as it catalyses creativity and development allowing for multiple houses and an array of housing options which were previously curtailed.” He further remarks on how this change will make housing more accessible for a larger resident population. “Housing is indeed a crisis of our times, particularly workforce affordable housing. More choices are needed for the hardworking class comprising teachers, law enforcement personnel, medics, and others,” comments Fisher.
The city is now in the process of mapping to determine which properties fit under which zoning codes. It vows to keep residents informed on the progress.
