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The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –
A bill requiring local governments to adopt housing strategies to permit high density housing, such as duplexes, in areas authorized for single family housing is scheduled to be heard in the Senate State and Local Government Committee.
Senate Bill 2124 (SB2124), sponsored by Committee Chair Sen. Richard Briggs (R-Knoxville-District 7), would require Tennessee’s city and metro governments to adopt at least four of the following housing development strategies:
1) Allow, as a permitted use, for at least a duplex where a single-unit dwelling is permitted
2) Eliminate or reduce off-street parking requirements to require no more than one parking space per dwelling unit
3) Allow, as a permitted use, for at least one internal or detached accessory dwelling unit on a lot with a single-unit dwelling occupied as a primary residence
4) Allow for single-room occupancy developments
5) Allow, as a permitted use, a triplex or fourplex where a single-unit dwelling is permitted
6) Eliminate minimum lot sizes or reduce the existing minimum lot size required by at least 25%
7) Eliminate aesthetic, material, shape, bulk, size, floor area, and other massing requirements for multi-unit dwellings or mixed-use developments or eliminate at least 50% of those existing requirements
8) Provide for zoning that specifically allows or encourages the development of tiny homes
9) Eliminate setback requirements or reduce existing setback requirements by at least 25%
10) Allow multi-unit dwellings or mixed-use development as a permitted use on all lots where office, retail, or commercial are primary permitted uses
11) Allow multi-unit dwellings as a permitted use on all lots where triplexes or fourplexes are permitted uses
12) Eliminate impact fees for accessory dwelling units or developments that include multi-unit dwellings or reduce the fees by at least 25%
Under this legislation any city or metro government that does not adopt at least four of these strategies by July 1st, 2025, will be deemed ineligible to receive a whole slew of grants “so long as the local government remains out of compliance.”
Non-compliant areas would be disqualified for certain community development block grants, downtown improvement grants, historic development grants, local parks and recreation fund grants, tourism enhancement and marketing grants, as well as several city enhancement programs.
The fiscal note for SB2124 assumes “that most cities will follow the requirements of the state law pursuant to this legislation.”
“Imagine that you get good county commissioners. But then, the state says, ‘if you don’t put apartment buildings in single family zoning, no money for you,’” stated a spokesperson for Tennessee Valley Advocates for Freedom. “They want to FORCE cities/counties to cram in high density housing where single family houses are. Cities and counties around here will blame the state, claiming they ‘have’ to make these changes, especially with tourism dollars associated. Areas of TN that are resisting all of this will have grant dollars withheld, hence the blackmail.”
“The money trail here is interesting, in that it doesn’t note that the state grants are likely coming from federal funds with strings,” continued the spokesperson who called the legislation “lesser magistrate blackmail.”
“TN legislators don’t know how to say no to ‘free’ money,” concluded the spokesperson. “We have to tell them that we don’t want this dirty money. The grants aren’t worth it. TN will not be blackmailed.”
SB2124 is scheduled to be heard by members of the Senate State and Local Government Committee today, Tuesday, February 20th.
The corresponding, House Bill 2292, has been assigned to the House Property and Planning Subcommittee but has not yet been scheduled for consideration.
About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee.
You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
