We believe strong neighborhoods are essential to a strong Memphis.

The Division of Planning and Development (DPD) has proposed sweeping changes to the Unified Development Code (zoning) and to the Land Use sections of Memphis 3.0 that will permanently alter neighborhood character across much of the City and County, materially affecting tens of thousands of Memphians. DPD is rushing the approval even though their release lacks page numbers and is not fully searchable, denying the public an opportunity for meaningful engagement. 

We seek a reasonable compromise that will achieve the city's growth objectives. 

OUR POSITION

* We support intentional, well-planned density and want to ensure transparency and equity. 
* We oppose zoning changes that discourage local owner-occupancy and that encourage non-local landlords. The proposed zoning diminishes individual ownership in favor of corporate landlords, especially across Midtown, North and South Memphis. However, in East Memphis, the single-family preservation zoning dominates. Preservation is a part of Midtown, North and South Memphis and not a characteristic of East Memphis, where there are large lots ripe for infill. 
* We oppose redefining long-understood housing types in ways that confuse the public and undermine neighborhood stability, i.e. cottage courts are a multi-family style, not single family. 
* We affirm the city and county's obligation to ensure meaningful public engagement. DPD's release of the full UDC text without page numbers and without making the text fully searchable suggests, at a minimum, less-than-adequate preparation time on their end. And DPD's rush for LUCB approval—allowing less than 2 weeks for the public to read, review and discuss with DPD the more than 300 all-new text pages of dense material—is a timeline preventing meaningful public engagement. A project of this scope should not be rushed. 
* To date, DPD has not adequately shared or explained these zoning changes at a neighborhood level. 

Requested Actions

1.     Preserve stable single-family neighborhoods and duplex neighborhoods citywide. Owner-occupied neighborhoods that anchor Midtown, North and South Memphis, like many in zones R6 and RU-1 (single family home and duplex zones respectively) should not be subject to sudden, unstudied increases in multi-family-style housing.  
Proposed solution: Create zoning classifications that actually correlate to R6 and RU-1 (single-family and duplex). Any new styles should be introduced conservatively, i.e. on corners with connectors, and can be expanded or canceled at the 2029 update. Overlays should be expanded, not diminished, because they preserve stable anchor neighborhoods without introducing incompatible forms.

2.     Pause adoption to allow proper review and planning.
Proposed solution: Given the volume and impact of these proposals, before assigning new land uses the City and County should engage in neighborhood-level planning, using as a guide the Small Area Plans recommended in Memphis 3.0. We request 90 days from the April 15 release of the properly page numbered, fully searchable document to review the contents and engage with DPD to discuss modifications. 

3.     Notify homeowners properly about the comprehensive rezoning.

Proposed solution: Because the new zones do not directly correlate with any existing ones (i.e. RN-1 allows housing styles not allowed in R-6, etc.), then DPD should follow its UDC regulations which require a citywide mailing. See p. 442 Section 9.3.4 A and also p. 449 Section 9.5.12.

To retain stability, transparency and public trust, we respectfully request that City and County leadership direct DPD to slow the zoning process, release a professional-level document, engage residents and neighborhoods meaningfully, and revise its proposals accordingly.