Denton staff seek to ease townhome infill by trimming lot and open‑space rules

City of Denton planners outlined proposed revisions to how townhomes are regulated in the Denton Development Code during a public webinar Friday, saying the changes are meant to reduce regulatory barriers to infill townhome development and expand opportunities for moderate‑priced homeownership.

The staff presentation, given by Julie Wyatt, principal planner, and followed by live audience polling, described three main barriers in the current code — a one‑size‑fits‑all minimum lot size, a limit that caps the number of townhomes to the number of single‑family lots that could be created on a site, and a requirement for on‑site common open space for developments with 10 or more units — and proposed changes to each.

Why it matters: Townhomes can provide lower‑maintenance, lower‑cost homeownership options near downtown and near the city’s universities; staff said increased townhome production could help buyers earning roughly $50,000–$60,000 purchase homes priced near $200,000.

Key proposals and public feedback

- Where townhome…