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Council adopts zoning code changes to allow saleable townhomes, industrial 0‑lot lines and revise portable-storage rules
Summary
The council approved multiple zoning and land-use text amendments to permit townhomes on individual lots in R‑3, allow 0‑lot-line attachments in industrial districts, and clarify portable storage container rules; planning staff said the changes respond to developer requests and planning commission recommendations.
Oak Ridge City Council approved several zoning-text amendments intended to add housing and industrial flexibility and to clarify rules for temporary storage containers.
Jennifer Williams, planning staff, told council the R‑3 (medium-density) zoning district will be amended to allow single-family attached dwellings — townhomes on individual lots suitable for sale — and corresponding subdivision-rule changes were approved by the planning commission. “This text amendment amends our existing R3 medium density residential zoning district to allow for that by making some changes to density, lot coverage and setbacks for the shared walls,” Williams said.
Council members asked whether the change could apply in other residential districts; Williams said staff considered R‑2 but concluded R‑2’s low-density standard made it unsuitable at this time. Council asked staff to review any overlaps with the Manhattan District overlay and to map affected parcels prior to second reading.
Separately, council approved a text amendment to allow 0‑lot-line setbacks in IND‑1, IND‑2 and IND‑3 industrial districts when abutting parcels are within the same industrial zoning district. Williams said the change responds to a developer situation where two adjacent buildings funded separately need separate lots but will share a common wall; similar lot-line situations already exist in commercial districts.
A separate ordinance clarified the definition and use of portable storage containers. The ordinance updates definitions and allows portable storage containers in nonindustrial zones for defined time periods under a temporary use or building permit; in industrial districts the containers may be used as an accessory use without a time limit provided they are screened from adjacent residential districts. Council approved that portable-storage ordinance on second and final reading.
The planning commission recommended all three measures. Each ordinance passed with unanimous council votes on the readings taken: the townhome and industrial text amendments passed on first reading (6–0); the portable-storage amendment passed on second and final reading (6–0).
Staff said additional guidance about fire-code requirements and lot-line details (shared-wall fire protections) will be enforced at building permit review.
