Many of the current requirements and standards of Knoxville’s Zoning Ordinance are antiquated and in need of extensive changes. The original ordinance was written over fifty years ago, at which time there was an emphasis on suburban development. The result has been a sprawled, less efficient pattern that left some parts of Knoxville behind.
While the ordinance as a whole needs to be modernized, recent amendments such as the South Waterfront and Cumberland Avenue redevelopment, have been successful. This has fueled demand for increased flexibility in future standards.