Middle Housing - R-4 Residential Zoning

Louisville is currently in the process of Reforming the Land Development Code. This basically dictates the rules and minimum requirements developer and builders must follow to get plans approved. The city believes that the existing R-4 zoning (4.84 homes per acre), protections are “archaic”.

According to Metro’s Executive Director of Economic Development, in an article in Louisville Business First, Louisville would like to modify the Land development Code to allow Middle Housing like duplexes, triplexes, quads, Cottage Courts, Townhouses and Condos on properties

zoned EXCLUSIVELY for single-family homes. This change could affect properties down or across the street from you, or even next door to you. Currently, this is prohibited, so the new law must be changed to allow it.

In a recent Newsletter from a local Councilman, dated June 28 th 2024, “I have concerns with some of the ideas that are being shared such as ‘by-right zoning’ which allows higher density housing in R-4 zoned areas or the ELIMINATION OF SINGLE-FAMILY zoning” Middle Housing will be available in various forms depending on several factors but the ultimate purpose is to increase densities and forgo the R-4 zoning protection in place where we all live currently. Imagine Multi Story apartments, townhouses, multi-story or side by side prefab buildings, etc. Also, these will NOT require zoning changes.

Now, here’s the fact. If we do NOT incorporate and become a Home Rule City with Zoning Auth, when these “reforms” are passed, in April of 2025, our entire area will be subject to those changes.

HOWEVER, If we have Zoning Auth, with our OWN Land Development Code, we do NOT have to adopt those changes. We can adopt the change with “amendments”, allowing the city of Eastwood Residents to decide where and when to allow them, according to traffic infrastructure and Policing capabilities. This Land Development Code Reform will change the landscape of our available land area in Eastwood forever, if we do nothing.

Watch the Video below to take a deeper dive into Middle Housing