Council sends debate on easing duplex lot‑size rules back to committee after heavy public comment

Urbana councilors on Wednesday forwarded back to committee an ordinance that would remove additional lot‑width and lot‑area requirements for two‑family dwellings (duplexes) in the R2 (single‑family) and R3 (single‑ and two‑family) zoning districts after a lengthy public input period and staff briefing.

Kevin Garcia of Community Development summarized the proposal and the process. The ordinance on the agenda (Plan Case 24‑93‑T‑24 / ordinance number 2024‑11‑034) would eliminate an extra lot area/width threshold that staff and the applicant say conflicts with the zoning districts’ stated intent and prevents many existing parcels from accommodating duplexes without a variance. Garcia said staff had published notice and that the plan commission had considered and recommended changes; he emphasized that the proposal would not eliminate the…