Exposing the lie of "higher housing density"

A recent Nextdoor post accused the current town administration of wanting high housing density. The facts show a very different reality. Below is a factual analysis of the most requested zoning district for residential development for the better part of the past two decades. These are the facts. Some folks continue to put words in my mouth that I never said, and ideas I don’t believe and don’t advocate for. I do hope the reasonable residents of Farragut will do their research and reach out to their elected representatives when they have questions about rezoning requests and land use.

The Open Space Residential Overlay (OSR) zoning district was adopted by Ordinance 03-18 on November 13, 2003. The Open Space Mixed Residential Overlay (OSMR) zoning district was adopted by Ordinance 06-05 on March 23, 2006. Both OSR and OSMR can only be applied over the base zone Rural Residential (R-1) which effectively limits any development rezoned R1/OSR or R1/OSMR to 2.178 units/acre.

In the ordinances it states that the number of dwelling units permitted shall be determined by dividing the gross land area by the minimum lot size of the base zone. R-1 has a minimum lot size of 20,000 square feet (sf) /unit. Dividing 43,560 sf/acre by 20,000sf/unit equals 2.178 units/acre.

Open space residential overlay district (OSR)

Open space mixed residential overlay district (OSMR)

R1/OSR and R1/OSMR allow houses to be clustered on the more buildable portion of a property and requires a dedication of a minimum of 35% open space. Clustering and density are two different things. No residential neighborhood zoned with the OSR or OSMR overlay can exceed 2.178 units/acre. R1/OSR allows only single family detached, R1/OSMR allows a mix of single family detached and attached (townhomes) but a concept plan is required before a property can be rezoned to R-1/OSMR.

The following subdivisions are zoned R-1/OSR (in parentheses is the actual density but under no circumstances does any subdivision zoned R-1/OSR exceed 2.178 units/acre):
  • Bridgemore
  • Unit 6 of Rockwell Farms (2.14 u/a)
  • Cool Springs (2.17 u/a)
  • Ivey Farms (1.93 u/a)
  • McKinley Station (1.9 u/a)
  • The Cove at Turkey Creek (2.15 u/a)
  • Brookmere (1.63 u/a)
  • Sheffield (1.68 u/a)
  • Brass Lantern (1.48 u/a)
  • Campbell Crossing (2.16 u/a)
  • Meadows at McFee (1.84 u/a)
The following subdivisions are zoned R-1/OSMR:
  • Briarstone
  • The Cottages at Pryse Farm (2.15 u/a)
  • The Grove at Boyd Station (2.15 u/a)

Easton Park is zoned R-3 (minimum lot size 8500 sf) but was limited to 30 lots because it could not provide a secondary access thereby limiting the subdivision to 1.94 units/acre. Brass Lantern was also limited to 30 units because the developer could not provide a secondary access limiting the subdivision to a density of 1.48 units/acre. Requiring a secondary access point reduced density for both these neighborhoods. Grigsby Park is zoned R-4 (allows up to 6 units/acre single family attached (townhomes)) a zoning in keeping with the neighboring subdivisions. Because of land constraints and ToF requirements, Grigsby Park has density of 2.61 units/acre, well below the allowed 6 u/a.


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