2026 4 21 Regular Session PACKET

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ORDINANCE NO. 1153 
Page 1 of 3 
 
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ATHENS, TENNESSEE, PROVIDING THAT 
THE ATHENS MUNICIPAL CODE, TITLE 14, CHAPTER 2 (“ ZONING 
ORDINANCE”), BE AMENDED BY REVISING SECTION 3.04.14  SO AS TO ADD 
SUBSECTION "G" THAT ESTABLISHES THE H -2 HISTORIC OVERLAY 
DISTRICT LIMITS AS BOUNDED BY COLLEGE STREET/EAST HORNSBY 
STREET, GREEN STREET, SUNSET DRIVE/SOUTH JACKSON/GREEN 
STREET/BANK STREET, AND CHURCH STREET; AND PROVIDING THAT THE 
OFFICIAL ZONING MAP IS AMENDED SO AS TO  ATTACH THE H-2 HISTORIC 
OVERLAY DISTRICT AS DESCRIBED HEREIN AND ON THE ATTACHED MAP;  
AND PROVIDING FOR CONFLICTS, SEVERABILITY AND AN EFFECTIVE 
DATE 
 
WHEREAS, Since early 2025 the Athens Historic Preservation Commission (AHPC) has 
studied the creation of a historic overlay district in downtown Athens, conducted public outreach, 
held informational meetings for property owners and the public, reviewed comments and survey 
responses, and revised the proposed district boundary; and  
 
WHEREAS, on January 8, 2026, the AHPC voted to recommend to the Athens Municipal 
Regional Planning Commission the creation of a Historic Overlay District in the downtown Central 
Business District; and  
 
WHEREAS, the Athens Municipal Regional Planning Commission considered the 
proposed H-2 Historic Overlay in the B -2 Central Business District at its April 6, 2026 meeting 
and recommended approval to the City Council; and  
 
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that adoption of the H -2 Historic Overlay District is 
in the public interest and consistent with the preservation of the historic character of downtown 
Athens. 
 
 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF ATHENS  AS 
FOLLOWS: 
 
SECTION 1.  
 
Title 14, Chapter 2, of the Athens City  Code is hereby amended by adding a new subsection “G” 
to Section 3.04.14 of the Athens City Zoning Code read as follows: 
 
G.  H-2 HISTORIC OVERLAY DISTRICT 
 
There is hereby established the H -2 Historic Overlay District in the B -2 Central Business 
District of the City of Athens, Tennessee, the boundaries  shown on Exhibit A,   attached 
hereto and incorporated herein by reference. 
 
The H -2 District is an overlay zoning district to be applied to the official zoning map 
pursuant to the zoning map amendment process. The H -2 District is an overlay district, 
meaning that the underlying zoning classification of property to which the overlay is 
applied shall remain unchanged. Permitted uses, conditional uses, setbacks, and other 
property development standards established by the underlying zoning district shall remain 
in effect except to the extent that exterior alterations, new construction, demolition, or other 
matters are subject to review by the Athens Historic Preservation Commission under 
Section 3.04.14 and any adopted design guidelines applicable thereto. 
 
SECTION 2.  
 
The official zoning map of the City of Athens, Tennessee, is hereby amended to apply the H -2 
Historic Overlay District to  the properties identified inside the outline boundary on the attached 
map and incorporated herein. 
 
 
 
 
 
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