Planning Commission Special Meeting Meeting

Detailed briefing

Planning Commission Special Meeting — April 6, 2023 - The Planning Commission met in a special work session to continue its zoning-code review following last year’s master-plan update. The chair said the session was intended for learning and discussion, not formal action, and no zoning vote was recorded. - A consultant reviewed how current residential setbacks and lot-coverage limits apply to common R-1C lot sizes, including 53-by-132-foot and 66-by-132-foot lots. The presentation indicated that existing setbacks can consume more than half of a smaller lot and that homes built near the maximum footprint often leave little or no practical space for a detached accessory dwelling unit (ADU). - The consultant showed illustrative options for smaller rear and side setbacks, while retaining lot-coverage limits. The analysis suggested that reduced setbacks could increase buildable area and potentially create more room for ADUs. It also showed that a two-family layout could fit on some 66-by-132-foot lots, depending on design. - Commissioners discussed whether a percentage-based setback system could help address varied lot widths and depths and possibly support consolidation of some residential districts. They also discussed the planning purpose of rear setbacks, including privacy, and noted concerns about two-story carriage-house-style ADUs close to neighboring yards. - Several code issues were identified for further review: the rule limiting ADU size relative to the principal building, the restriction affecting ADUs when a home has an attached garage, flag lots and required street frontage, lot-split standards, and the relationship between zoning rules and state law. - The commission agreed to organize a smaller working group of up to four Planning Commission members, working with staff and the consultant, to develop more detailed zoning options for later review by the full commission. Members not on the group may provide written input on topics under review. The commission also agreed not to schedule a May zoning special meeting while this work proceeds. Worth watching: - Whether the working group recommends reduced or percentage-based setbacks, revised ADU standards, duplex provisions, or consolidation of residential districts. - How the city addresses privacy and height concerns for two-story accessory structures near property lines. - Staff’s review of rules governing Planning Commission membership, alternates, and special-land-use approval thresholds. Upcoming: The next regular meeting is April 20, with a public hearing on short-term-rental documents, one site-plan review, and two special-land-use requests listed for discussion. Why it matters: The zoning review could change how existing residential lots can be used for housing, accessory units, and redevelopment while balancing neighborhood scale and privacy.

Agenda items

• 5A · Zoning Code Reviewdiscussed

No open public follow-ups are linked to this meeting yet.

Related issues

• Zoning / Land Usediscussed