Memphis Zoning Decisions: October 2026

In October 2026, Memphis held 4 public meetings covering zoning matters. 12 zoning decisions had a recorded outcome this month: 8 approved (89% approval rate), 1 denied, 3 deferred. Activity was down 39% compared to September (204 activity items across 4 meetings).

Zoning Decisions This Month

Special use permit for gas station at 1681 East Rains Road

Approved.

SUP for gas station/convenience store (groceries, snacks, food; no alcohol or tobacco; drive-through eliminated) at 1681 East Rains Road; approx. $3 million project; adjacent property at 1669 East Rains under same ownership to receive frontage, landscaping and lighting upgrades. Represented by David Bray. Previously rejected 9-15, approved in committee. Roll call: Cooper-Sutton no, White abstained, others yes.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Special use permit for Club Car Wash on Summer Avenue

Denied.

SUP 2026-013, a special use permit for a car wash in the CMU-1 district on Summer Avenue (District 2, Super District 9). The car wash would replace a defunct Hardee's. Applicant Club Car Wash was represented by Lou Wardlaw of Martin, Tate, Morrow and Marston, with Kimley Horn as consultant. Staff recommended rejection, citing pedestrian-oriented CMU-1 intent, four existing car washes nearby, and residences 145 feet away. The motion to approve was amended to set hours at 7:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. and to correct condition 4 from Poplar Avenue to Summer Avenue. The motion failed on roll call; Norman, Winter, Wilbanks, Lyles-Wallace and Sharp were recorded voting no.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Consent agenda items 2-18

Approved.

A single voice vote disposed of items 2 through 18:

• S-2026-031: 3-lot resubdivision at 2423 St. Elmo Ave — approved.
• SUP 2026-017: hotel at 2736 South Noncona Blvd — approved.
• MJR 2026-020: access to Warford St — approved.
• MJR 2026-021: shipping container building at 363 Mulberry St — approved.
• MJR 2026-022: car wash ownership change at 1470 North Germantown Pkwy — approved.
• S-2026-032: 1678 Watson Rd — approved.
• S-2026-034: 60-lot subdivision on Millington-Arlington Rd — approved.
• S-2026-035: 5690, 5696 and 5702 Summer Ave — approved.
• S2026-038: 12-lot subdivision on Angeles Cove — approved.
• S2026-039: 7-lot subdivision at 3174 Carnes Ave — approved.
• PD 2026-013: mixed-use amendment on Austin Peay Hwy — approved.
• PD 2026-016: office uses on Walnut Grove Rd — approved.
• SUP 2026-023: cell tower at 10605 Bishop Dozier Dr — approved.
• PD 2026-014, PD 2026-015, SUP 2026-018 and SUP 2026-021 — held. Wilbanks recused from item 15.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Special use permit at 1288 Sycamore View Road

Approved.

SUP 26-20 special use permit approved; committee recommended approval. Moved Spinoza, seconded Warren. Unanimous roll call.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Special use permit for car wash at 2451 Summer Avenue

Approved.

SUP for a new car wash at 2451 Summer Avenue (Summer Ave and North Hollywood), represented by Brian Bacchus. Approved as amended, all yes on roll call.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Ordinance 5985 – Strategic Large Load / Digital Infrastructure District

Deferred.

Ordinance to replace blanket data center moratorium with tiered review, Memphis water assurance standard, fiscal floor, strategic development agreements, and authorize Memphis Digital Infrastructure Development District No. 1; held to next meeting by sponsor Spinoza to align with Warren's community benefit ordinance.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Temporary moratorium on data center development permits (Ordinance No. 5982)

Deferred.

Ordinance declaring a temporary moratorium on acceptance, processing, approval and issuing of zoning, land use, building, and associated infrastructure permits for data center developments within the City of Memphis, up for third and final reading. The council voted to HOLD items 19, 20, 21, and 31 to the October 20, 2026 meeting and to convene a planning and zoning working session Thursday at 1 p.m. Three friendly amendments were accepted before the hold: mandating three seats for environmental and community organizations in the study, requiring monthly updates with a 90-day recommendation deadline, and extending the moratorium duration from 12 to 18 months. Dissenters on the hold motion: Easter-Thomas, Green, Smiley, Walker, and Chairwoman Swearengin-Washington (voted no).

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Ordinance 5986 – Large-scale data center UDC regulations

Approved.

Third reading of substitute ordinance amending UDC (ordinance 5367) to regulate siting, construction, expansion and operation of large-scale data centers: prohibits routine evaporative/once-through cooling, requires closed-loop systems, prohibits major local water withdrawals, requires water conservation/monitoring, renewable electricity phase-in, disclosure and penalties; supporters described it as including a ~135-day application pause pending study. Motion by Green to hold to next meeting and attempt to defer to end of meeting did not prevail. Passed; no votes Easter-Thomas, Smiley, Walker, Green, Chairwoman Swearengin-Washington.

See the vote tally and conditions for this decision →

Showing the 8 most significant of 12 recorded zoning decisions. See all Memphis meetings →

Top Keywords This Month

• zoning: 35 instances
• land use: 16 instances
• residential: 11 instances
• industrial: 10 instances
• special use permit: 8 instances

What to Watch

• Zoning mentions were up 94% from September.
• Industrial came up 100% more often than September.
• Special use permit saw 60% more mentions month-over-month.

Stay on Top of Memphis Meetings

This roundup was the month in review. For what is moving in Memphis right now, the county hub follows each new meeting and case as it is posted. Full conditions and vote records for covered decisions live with Pro at $39/mo, with 3 Project Reports a month included.

See what is moving in Memphis now →.