Rick Copeland, Director
125 North Main Street, Room 468
Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 576-7197
rick.copeland@memphistn.gov
Click the link below for the Official Web Site of the
Memphis & Shelby County Department of Planning and Development
http://www.dpdgov.com
The dpdgov.com web site is best viewed in Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 or above
The Division of Planning and Development is a joint agency that serves both the City of Memphis and Shelby County Government. Its mission includes the development of plans and programs that result in thriving and livable neighborhoods, safe and efficient buildings and enhanced economic development opportunities.
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The link above is the official and full web site with expanded information.
This page is a summary of the Offices and their functions.
Use the "web site" links by the Office name to see more information
or go to the full site via the link above |
Office of Planning and Development 
Planning Director
6465 Mullins Station Road
Memphis, TN 38134
(901) 379-4206
The Office of Planning and Development is responsible for land development planning in Memphis and unincorporated Shelby County. The office promotes the vision of livable communities and helps to guide community investments in land use and infrastructure.
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The Comprehensive Planning Section
125 North Main Street, Room 450
Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 576-6610
The Comprehensive Planning Section provides direction for future growth by developing policies and strategies that build new communities while encouraging redevelopment in inner City neighborhoods through sound land use planning principles. Comprehensive Planning develops long range countywide land use plans, as well as plans directed toward implementation of neighborhood initiatives. It serves as the central repository for plans and data useful for planning and policy studies for the City and County Administrations, legislative bodies and the general public.
Comprehensive Planning serves as the staff to the Memphis Landmarks Commission and the Community Redevelopment Agency. The Landmarks Commission is charged with preserving Memphis' historic resources through planning, education and the review of projects in the City's historic Districts. The Community Redevelopment Agency is charged with overseeing reinvestment for infrastructure and other public initiatives in selected City neighborhoods through the use of tax increment financing. The public investments is leveraged with private investment to eliminated slum and blight in the inner City and promote the construction and renovation of low and moderate income housing. |
The Division of Regional Services/Memphis MPO
Martha Lott, Administrator
1075 Mullins Station Road
Memphis, TN 38134
(901) 379-7840
martha.lott@shelbycountytn.gov
The Department of Regional Services provides community-planning activities that extend beyond the boundaries of Shelby County. These include transportation and solid waste planning, Memphis Area Rideshare and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) management. This diverse group of activities recognizes the impact Shelby County has on the region and the region has on Shelby County.
The Department's primary activities are transportation oriented. It provides the staff for the Memphis Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). The MPO is responsible for integrated planning of transportation systems in Shelby County, and parts of Desoto County, Mississippi and Fayette County Tennessee. Using Federal regulations and guidance, short and long-term transportation plans that meet community objectives are developed and implemented. A multi-modal planning approach is used to assure a vibrant and growing system of roads, rail lines, transit systems, airports and waterways.
A second transportation related function in Regional Services is the Memphis Area Rideshare Program. Rideshare promotes transportation options to individuals and groups wishing to utilize vans or carpools to improve environmental conditions relieve congestion and improve access to jobs and transportation dependent events. Using computer software to manage the alternative transportation possibilities and cooperative efforts to meet individual transportation needs, the Rideshare Program has proven invaluable to thousands of Shelby County residents.
As part of the promotion of Rideshare, the Commuter Club was formed. Over 14,000 citizens have signed up for this free club. It offers commuters discount services from local sponsors, a quarterly newsletter and a guaranteed ride home program. The guaranteed ride home promotes alternative transportation use by removing the fear of being "stuck without a car" in an emergency situation.
Rideshare also can provide vans to commuter groups, employers, job training programs, community-based organizations, churches and others involved in vanpooling and community transportation efforts. Flexible and creative no-down payment van leasing and purchase options are available for qualifying groups.
Other planning activities include providing staff for and the coordination of Shelby County Municipal Solid Waste Planning Board. This Board was established to promote and assess programs to reduce solid waste going to Class 1 landfills by 25% from 1995 levels.
Geographic Information Systems or GIS has become an increasing common and important tool used by government to "see where its problems are." This database driven mapping program has proven remarkably flexible in giving policy and decision makers spatial and timely information on key issues community growth and problem identification questions. Regional Services serves as central repository for land use and transportation related geographic data.
The Shelby County Department of Housing
Jim Vazquez, Administrator
1075 Mullins Station Road
Memphis, TN 38134
(901) 379-7100
jim.vazquez@shelbycountytn.gov
The Shelby County Department of Housing's (SCDH) mission is to address housing and community development needs for low-to moderate-income residents of Shelby County, outside the City of Memphis. In order to carry out this mission, Shelby County receives Community Development Block Grant and HOME funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Community Development (HUD). These funds are utilized to provide services such as housing rehabilitation, down payment assistance, lead paint testing, and affordable new housing construction. SCDH also partners with local municipalities in order to provide infrastructure and park improvements in low-to moderate-income areas. In addition to administering the HUD grants, SCDH operates the Shelby County Homestead Program, promoting housing development on tax-foreclosed, vacant lots in order to stimulate neighborhood revitalization and increase the affordable housing stock in Shelby County.
Memphis and Shelby County Office of Construction Code Enforcement
Allen Medlock, Interim Administrator
6465 Mullins Station Road
Memphis, TN 38134
(901) 385-4725
allen.medlock@shelbycountytn.gov
The Memphis and Shelby County Office of Construction Code Enforcement is responsible for insuring that building construction conforms to local zoning regulations and to the safety standards set forth in the most recent Standard Building Code as adopted for use in the City of Memphis, unincorporated Shelby County, Lakeland, Arlington and Germantown. The department reviews plans, issues permits and conducts inspection of new building components, as well as inspecting plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems.
Code Enforcement is also responsible for regulating signs, the tree ordinances and other unique zoning requirements in the City and the unincorporated County.
Economic & Resource Development
Charles Gulotta, Director
125 North Main Street, Room 468
Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 576-7107
The Department of Economic Development promotes economic development initiatives in the City of Memphis and unincorporated Shelby County. It serves as the principal staff to the Memphis and Shelby County Industrial Development Board (IDB). The IDB oversees the Payment-In-Lieu-Of-Taxes (pilot) program which grants property tax freezes to qualified industries with Memphis and Shelby County and issues Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRB) for qualified local businesses. The Office also assists new, expanding and existing businesses by participating with the Existing Industry Team (EIT) consisting of the Memphis Regional Chamber, the State of Tennessee (ECD), the Tennessee Valley Authority, Center City Commission, the University of Tennessee - Memphis, Workforce Investment Board and Memphis Light Gas and Water Division. In addition the Office is responsible for administration of Foreign Trade Zone No. 77 as the grantee of several general purpose and sub-zone sites, coordinating applications for changes with the Federal Foreign-Trade Zone Board.
The Memphis Depot Redevelopment Corporation
Jim Covington, Executive Director
2163 Airways Blvd.
Memphis, TN 38114
(901) 942-4939
jcovington@memphisdepot.net
The Memphis Depot Redevelopment Corporation is charged with the leasing, maintenance and redevelopment of the Memphis Depot Business Park, former Army supply and distribution center, which closed to military use in 1997. The corporation serves as the staff to the Memphis Depot Redevelopment Board, whose members are appointed jointly by the City of Memphis and Shelby County Government administrators. The staff is responsible for assisting local and national businesses in locating to the more than 500-acre business site, thus promoting economic development and reinvestment in inner City communities and the Memphis International Airport area.
