Knoxville

Knox Planning Staff Backs RN-3 for Vacant E. Moody Avenue Lots (10-H-26-RZ)

Two vacant parcels at 324 and 334 E. Moody Avenue in South Knoxville came before Knoxville-Knox County Planning on Oct. 1 with a request to move from RN-1 single-family zoning to RN-3, which allows single-family, attached, and two-family homes. Staff recommended approval.

Tracy King

06 Oct 2026 • 6 min read

Case 10-H-26-RZ covers vacant lots on E. Moody Avenue in South Knoxville. Illustrative photo.

Two vacant parcels on E. Moody Avenue in South Knoxville could be the next small test of how the city handles "missing middle" housing on busy streets. Logan Brewster asked Knoxville-Knox County Planning to rezone 324 and 334 E. Moody Avenue, about 0.96 acres on the southeast side of the street east of Chapman Highway, from RN-1 (Single-Family Residential Neighborhood) to RN-3 (General Residential Neighborhood). Planning staff recommended approval of the rezoning and of a matching land-use plan change from LDR (Low Density Residential) to MDR (Medium Density Residential).

The three linked files, 10-B-26-SP, 10-B-26-PA and 10-H-26-RZ, were item 29 on the Planning Commission's Oct. 1, 2026, agenda, and the item was marked "C" on the consent approval list. Under the staff report, the request goes to Knoxville City Council on Nov. 10 and Nov. 24, 2026, if Planning approves it.

What is on the property today

The staff report lists the existing land use as agriculture, forestry, or vacant land. The parcels carry tax ID 109 J F 012 and 013 and sit in City Council District 1, inside the South City sector plan area. Water and sewer come from Knoxville Utilities Board, and the land drains to the Baker Creek and Goose Creek watersheds.

The neighbors are mostly houses. The report lists single-family residential with RN-1 zoning to the south, east and west, and vacant land zoned RN-2 to the north. Staff describes the wider area as single-family and multifamily residential uses interspersed with vacant land, about 0.3 miles northeast of the Chapman Highway commercial corridor.

Why staff says the plan should change

Staff does not claim the current plan was a mistake. The report says the LDR classification is consistent with the residential character of the area and is not the result of an error or omission. Instead, staff points to what has been built around the lots since the plan was written.

The 2017 Moody Avenue redesign. Staff writes that safety improvements were completed in 2017 that converted the road from four lanes to two lanes with a center-turn lane and bicycle lanes on both sides, providing a buffer between vehicles and sidewalks.
The Urban Wilderness Gateway Park. The report says the park was established in 2021 about 0.5 miles east, linking the end of James White Parkway to the Baker Creek Preserve, and that the Baker Creek Pavilion and Playscape were completed in February 2026.
Street type. Staff notes that LDR generally recommends keeping low-density homes away from direct access to major collectors or arterial streets, while MDR is meant for a mix of housing types on collector or arterial streets near transit-served corridors.

E. Moody Avenue is that kind of street. The report describes it as a minor arterial with 34 feet of pavement and a center turn lane inside a right-of-way that varies from 93 to 97 feet.

What RN-3 would allow

RN-3 is a step up from RN-1, but it is still a neighborhood district. Staff writes that RN-3 is intended for medium-density residential neighborhoods characterized by single-family, single-family attached, and two-family homes. Townhouses are possible only through a special use approval, which staff says lets the Planning Commission review a project for compatibility and recommend conditions.

Staff also notes that nearby zoning already includes RN-1, RN-2, and RN-4, so RN-3 would not be an outlier. The report says the rezoning is not anticipated to negatively impact the surrounding area of single-family and two-family homes with varying lot widths. The traffic impact estimate is listed as not required, and the estimated student yield as not applicable.

10-H-26-RZ at a glance

Field	Staff report
Files	10-H-26-RZ, 10-B-26-SP, 10-B-26-PA (agenda item 29, Oct. 1, 2026)
Applicant / owner	Logan Brewster
Addresses	324 E Moody Ave (334 E Moody Ave)
Tax ID	109 J F 012, 013
Jurisdiction	Council District 1
Size	0.96 acres
Existing use	Agriculture/Forestry/Vacant Land
Current plan / zoning	LDR / RN-1 (Single-Family Residential Neighborhood)
Requested plan / zoning	MDR / RN-3 (General Residential Neighborhood)
Street	E Moody Avenue, minor arterial, 34 ft pavement, center turn lane
Schools listed	Dogwood Elementary, South Doyle Middle, South Doyle High
Staff recommendation	Approve MDR and RN-3
City Council dates if approved	11/10/2026 and 11/24/2026

Why location carried the case

Much of the staff analysis is about access. The report counts four Knoxville Area Transit bus stops within 0.3 miles. It says the parcels are inside the Parental Responsibility Zone for Dogwood Elementary and South-Doyle Middle, and that both schools can be reached by sidewalk. Dogwood Elementary is about 0.65 miles northeast and South-Doyle Middle about 0.68 miles southeast.

Staff also ties the request to the General Plan's Development Policy 4.5, which encourages neighborhoods large enough to support cost-effective community facilities and services. In the report's words, the property sits in a primarily residential area with direct access to a major arterial street, served by pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and close to schools, parks, and commercial amenities.

What it means for South Knoxville homeowners

For owners on and near Moody Avenue, the practical question is what could be built next door. Under RN-1, the answer is detached houses. Under RN-3, the options widen to attached homes and duplexes, with townhouses subject to a separate special use review. That review is where neighbors would see a site plan and could weigh in on layout, parking, and buffering.

For sellers, small infill rezonings tend to cut both ways. A lot with RN-3 zoning can appeal to builders who want to put two or more homes on one parcel. Buyers shopping for a quiet single-family block may ask more questions about vacant land nearby. In both cases, the zoning map is public, and a good listing should explain what the neighborhood plan allows rather than leaving buyers to guess.

If you own a home near a busy corridor in South Knoxville, it is worth knowing how your own lot is zoned and how the sector plan classifies it. Corridor improvements like the Moody Avenue redesign and park investments like the Urban Wilderness Gateway are exactly the kinds of changes staff cites when it recommends a plan update.

Planning has handled several small residential rezonings this fall. Knox Planning Staff Backs Nash Road Industrial-to-RN-2 Rezone (10-E-26-RZ) moved in the opposite direction, from industrial to single-family zoning, while Knox Planning Approves Sylvan St RN-2; Council Set for Oct. 13 followed the same Planning-then-Council path.

Knoxville dates to watch

Oct. 1, 2026, 1:30 p.m. — Knoxville-Knox County Planning Commission, Main Assembly Room, City County Building (item 29: 10-B-26-SP, 10-B-26-PA, 10-H-26-RZ).
Nov. 10, 2026 — Knoxville City Council, first action if Planning approves.
Nov. 24, 2026 — Knoxville City Council, second action if Planning approves.
Appeals — If Planning denies, that action is final unless appealed to City Council; appellants have 15 days.

Thinking about selling in South Knoxville while the corridor changes? Start with a free home valuation, or request a cash offer if you want a firm number without waiting on the calendar.

What is Knox case 10-H-26-RZ?

It is a request by Logan Brewster to rezone 324 and 334 E. Moody Avenue, about 0.96 acres in South Knoxville, from RN-1 Single-Family Residential Neighborhood to RN-3 General Residential Neighborhood, paired with a plan change from LDR to MDR.

Staff recommended approving the MDR land use classification because it is supported by public improvements in the area, and approving RN-3 zoning because it is consistent with adopted plans.

What can be built under RN-3 zoning in Knoxville?

Staff describes RN-3 as a district for medium-density neighborhoods with single-family, single-family attached, and two-family homes. Townhouses require a special use approval reviewed by the Planning Commission.

Why does staff say the plan should change?

Staff cites the 2017 Moody Avenue redesign with a center-turn lane and bike lanes, the Urban Wilderness Gateway Park about 0.5 miles east, nearby transit stops, and sidewalk access to Dogwood Elementary and South-Doyle Middle.

When would Knoxville City Council vote on 10-H-26-RZ?

If the Planning Commission approves, the staff report says the item goes to Knoxville City Council for action on Nov. 10 and Nov. 24, 2026. A denial is final unless appealed within 15 days.