The Knoxville Knox County Planning Commission on Aug. 14 approved amendments to City of Knoxville zoning code Article 4.6 and related sections that revise middle‑housing ("missing middle") standards, the commission chair said. Commissioners voted after more than an hour of public comment and discussion about lot widths, townhouse definitions and how the rules affect small infill projects.

The changes, recommended by planning staff, were approved by motion of Commissioner Midas and a second from Commissioner Butler. Planning staff said the revisions “provide additional clarity in the zoning standards and will generate better consistency with surrounding neighborhoods,” Executive Director Amy Brooks told the commission.

Why it matters: the middle‑housing rules were created to allow more housing types — duplexes, triplexes, townhouses and small multiplexes — in established neighborhoods. Speakers at the meeting said recent edits resolved some ambiguities but risked making certain building types uneconomical or infeasible on narrow or nonconforming lots.

Local architects and developers asked the commission to reconsider a side‑entry requirement for duplexes and to restore an administrative variance that previously allowed a 20% relief on townhome widths. Architect R. Bentley Marlowe said the side‑entry rule “would limit the design functionality of a lot of these buildings, especially how they’re designed to be the most effective and economical way possible.” Parker Bartholomew, speaking as a developer and designer, said some definitions make it “basically impossible to build townhomes on most of the available vacant lots” because of minimum unit widths.

Commission discussion centered on balancing predictable, enforceable standards and the flexibility needed to permit affordable, buildable housing forms. Commissioner Gill noted existing corner lots in RN‑4 zoning that could accommodate multiple primary structures and asked whether the code should allow those cases. Brooks and other staff said some of the concerns will require further targeted amendments and data review, especially about RN‑3 and RN‑4 corner lots.

The commission voted to approve the amendments. Commissioner Gill said he supported the general direction but asked staff to return with focused language for RN‑4 corner‑lot situations. Brooks acknowledged staff will continue to refine the code as a “living document.”

The vote: commissioners approved the zoning amendments; the changes will go to the appropriate legislative bodies or be implemented according to the city’s adoption process.

What’s next: staff and commissioners said they expect follow‑up tweaks — for example, clearer language for duplex / townhouse / multiplex forms and potential targeted allowances for RN‑4 corner lots — and additional outreach to architects and builders.

Ending: Supporters and critics said they appreciated that the code clarification reduced ambiguity, but several practitioners urged the city to continue refining the standards to avoid unintended limits on economical infill housing.