During a recent government meeting, a significant discussion centered around a rezoning request from RN2 to RN4 for a 55,100 square foot lot located near the Western Heights community. The lot, situated on Emerald Avenue, is currently surrounded by RN2 zoning and classified under traditional neighborhood residential land use.

City staff recommended denial of the proposed amendment, citing that it does not align with the intent of the zoning ordinance. While there are evolving conditions in the area that could support increased residential density due to ongoing developments in Western Heights, staff noted that the existing middle housing standards already allow for the construction of duplexes, triplexes, or fourplexes on the lot.

The lot in question is already non-conforming under its current RN2 zoning, as it fails to meet the minimum lot width requirement of 50 feet. Staff expressed concerns that further upzoning non-conforming lots could lead to potential misuse of zoning regulations, particularly Article 17.3, which permits non-conforming lots to be utilized for any use allowed within their zoning district.

A critical distinction between RN2 and RN4 zoning is that RN4 allows for multiple principal uses. Approval of the RN4 designation, combined with middle housing standards, could lead to developments that are significantly more intensive than the surrounding area can accommodate.

In addition to this discussion, the meeting also addressed a separate rezoning request for an 11.68-acre parcel on Tazewell Pike, seeking to change its designation from RB general residential to PR, which permits up to 10 dwelling units per acre. Further details on this request were not elaborated upon during the meeting.