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City staff propose higher multifamily heights in RN‑5 with protections for adjacent single‑family homes
Summary
City planning staff presented ordinance amendments to raise maximum multifamily building heights in the R N 5 residential district from 35 feet to up to 55 feet in many locations, while capping heights at 45 feet where RN‑5 abuts single‑family homes and adding setback increases for taller buildings.
Bridal Barrie, plans review and inspections department at the City of Knoxville, outlined proposed amendments that would increase allowable multifamily building height and adjust dimensional standards in the R N 5 residential district.
Barrie said the proposal would increase multifamily maximum height in RN‑5 from 35 feet to as much as 55 feet in appropriate locations, but would limit height to 45 feet where RN‑5 property is adjacent to single‑family residences. "This will allow density to develop more from a vertical standpoint where it's appropriate," he said.
Key changes and protections: the draft would raise front setbacks to 35 feet for buildings over 35 feet tall (aligning RN‑5 with RN‑6 standards), increase interior side setbacks from 10 to 12 feet for lower buildings and add a sliding additional setback for buildings over 35 feet (one additional foot of setback for every two feet of height over 35 feet). For buildings 55 feet tall, the interior side setback could reach a maximum of 22 feet.
Scope: staff said there are 975 parcels zoned RN‑5 across the city and that roughly 56% of those parcels would meet RN‑5 lot area and width requirements to qualify for multifamily development under the proposal. Barrie framed the changes as making RN‑5 more consistent with adjacent RN‑4 and RN‑6 districts and said the proposal also caps height adjacent to single‑family homes to protect neighborhood character.
Questions from commissioners addressed context and history. Barrie said RN‑5 was created during a recode and incorporated portions of earlier R‑2 and R‑4 districts, which historically capped heights at 35 feet; RN‑6 corresponds to the old R‑3 district and allows greater height. He advised commissioners to review the memo and table in the staff packet and to raise questions at the upcoming public hearing.
End note: staff asked commissioners to review materials ahead of Thursday’s meeting and to consider how proposed height and setback changes balance additional multifamily capacity with protections for adjacent low‑rise neighborhoods.
