Commission backs recommendation to remove ambiguous '3‑foot per‑story' setback sentence from code

Staff presented a targeted municipal code amendment to delete a single sentence that had been interpreted inconsistently as requiring an additional 3‑foot setback for each story. Staff explained two readings: one read it as a tiered, per‑story offset; the Fire Marshal read it as requiring the whole building to be set back an additional three feet for each story. Staff said the Fire Marshal’s interpretation made more operational sense and that removing the ambiguous sentence would streamline housing development without changing other setback or fire‑safety standards.