City Council Considers Major Changes to Residential Zoning

During a recent council meeting, discussions centered on Ordinance 2408, which proposes amendments to the RM mixed residential zone. The primary focus was on an application from Wesley Nelson Farms to rezone a property located at 1301 West, 2600 South from R-2 to RMDH. The proposed changes include a concept plan for townhome development, which aims to enhance the area's residential offerings.

To facilitate the rezone, a code change is necessary to add the property to the eligibility map for the RMD zone. The applicant has also suggested several amendments to the RM code, including increasing the allowable density from ten to twelve units per developable acre and reducing the required open space for multifamily developments from 35% to 20%. Additionally, they seek a variance to street design standards, specifically to remove the requirement for a master-planned street along 2500 South.

City staff expressed concerns regarding the proposed density increase, noting that the previous reduction to ten units per net developable acre was intended to incentivize the use of transfer development rights (TDR). The staff emphasized the importance of maintaining consistency in density measurements and the potential implications of shifting from net to gross density calculations.

Regarding the reduction of open space requirements, staff highlighted the general plan's emphasis on conserving open space in new developments and indicated that they were not supportive of this change. The proposal to eliminate the master-planned street along 2500 South was also met with skepticism, as staff argued that it would negatively impact street connectivity and traffic dispersion.

The council acknowledged the presence of the applicants and encouraged further discussion on their proposals. The planning commission is expected to review these matters in greater detail in upcoming meetings, particularly concerning the transportation master plan amendment related to the proposed street changes.