City planning staff presented proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance governing school and institutional uses intended to speed processing of smaller school additions and clarify standards for buffers, irrigation and accessory uses during the June 26 Murfreesboro City Council meeting; council held a public hearing and deferred final action to the July 17 meeting.

Staff said the changes would remove the requirement for a board of zoning appeals special‑use permit for some smaller projects, eliminate irrigation requirements in certain cases, and establish a Type C buffer when school property is adjacent to residential zoning. The proposed language would require planned institutional or planned urban development rezoning for construction of a new school and retain a 50,000‑square‑foot threshold for additions that trigger a planned institutional development review.

Staff noted they reviewed approximately 18 past school additions and found that four would have exceeded the 50,000‑square‑foot threshold; staff described proposed limits on accessory uses that generate noise (for example, trade classes) requiring indoor location and a minimum 150‑foot distance from property lines. Planning staff recommended deferring action to July 17 and offered to provide additional information if a public hearing warranted it.

No members of the public addressed the council on the item during the hearing. The council moved to defer the ordinance amendment vote to the July 17 meeting; the motion carried on a 4‑0 roll call.

Sources: Planning staff presentation regarding zoning ordinance amendments for school and institutional uses to Murfreesboro City Council, June 26, 2025.