The Columbia Planning Commission approved a zoning text amendment to clarify household‑living definitions in the Unified Development Ordinance, specifying how townhomes, duplexes and multifamily developments are categorized for density, parking and landscaping requirements.

Staff explained the amendment would change definitions in Chapter 17, Article 9 to base regulation on development type rather than strictly on building type. Under the proposed language, multifamily would be defined as a development with three or more units on a single lot; townhomes and duplexes on individual lots could still be built, but similar configurations on a single lot would be regulated as multifamily.

“The current definitions are based off of building type and not necessarily the development type,” a staff member said. The memo presented to the commission noted that inconsistent definitions had allowed some developments to exceed density limits or avoid landscaping requirements that apply to multifamily projects.

A commissioner noted the amendment would address situations similar to a recent Bluff/Rosewood area project where classifications were unclear; staff confirmed the change is intended to resolve those kinds of cases.

A motion to approve Zoning Text Amendment TA‑2025‑0013 carried unanimously; the commission provided no public comment on the item.