Councilmember Horton wants Nashville renters alerted about new rezoning plans
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Illustration: Maura Losch/Axios
Renters would be notified about rezoning plans near them under a new plan from Metro Councilmember Rollin Horton.
Why it matters: The new legislation is the latest chapter in Horton's crusade against NIMBYism — the Not In My Backyard stance that thwarts multi-family housing projects.
- Currently, city officials are only required to notify property owners and landlords in close proximity to a proposed new development.
Driving the news: Horton, who serves on the Planning Commission, wants to engage more residents about rezoning proposals.
- He says research shows renters are more likely to support additional housing options.
Zoom in: He also believes his bill would simply increase civic engagement. The legislation requires renters of residential or commercial space within 1,000 feet of a rezoning plan to be notified.
What he's saying: Horton tells Axios all Nashvillians deserve to know what's going on in their neighborhoods, but the current approach keeps some residents out of the loop.
- "To put it in perspective, if there were a rezoning proposal in your neighborhood today, an out-of-state corporate landlord would receive a notification about the proposed rezoning but a MNPS teacher renting an apartment or local boutique owner who leases her storefront would not be," Horton said in his neighborhood newsletter.
Zoom out: Increasing housing is Horton's political moon mission. He passed a sweeping rezoning of the Nations neighborhood, which adds the possibility of more housing and infrastructure.
- Horton also passed legislation allowing smaller multi-family developments to be constructed with a single staircase, which builders say reduces costs.