Nashville planning staff unveil Phase 2 zoning text to enable "middle housing," attainability bonus and expanded DADU overlay

Planning and zoning staff on Tuesday presented Phase 2 of a multi-year housing and infrastructure study, proposing new zoning text to create two residential districts aimed at “middle housing,” an attainment bonus limited to rental units under state law and an expansion of detached accessory dwelling units (DADUs).

The Planning Department’s presentation, delivered by Greg of the planning department, laid out a three-part text amendment (Tasks 2a, 2b and 2c) intended to improve clarity in Metro’s zoning code, create districts scaled for house‑scale and low‑rise/multiplex housing, and add incentives to produce some attainable rental units within market‑rate buildings. "The goal is to improve the function and clarity of the zoning code for residential buildings and to improve the compatibility between new construction and existing neighborhoods," Greg said.

Why it matters: Planning staff said the changes aim to help Nashville meet housing targets in the Unified Housing Strategy while preserving neighborhood character. The text amendments would create (1) a Residential Neighborhood (RN) district for house‑scale forms (single‑family, duplexes, house courts and similar types) and (2) a Residential Limited (RL) district that would also allow courtyard flats and low‑rise multiplexes. Staff said the districts and associated building‑type standards are intended to steer form and scale while keeping entitlements clearer for neighbors and builders.

Staff framed the work as the second of four phases. Phase 1 assessed the existing Metro zoning code and infrastructure impacts; Phase 2 focuses on text changes to the zoning and building code; Phase 3 will…