Planning commission continues debate on R‑2 zoning change that would allow up to four units per lot

Traverse City planning staff and commissioners on Feb. 4 continued a lengthy discussion of a proposed text amendment to allow up to four dwelling units on lots in the R‑2 residential district. No action was taken; the item remains scheduled for a March 4 public hearing and no final vote can occur until that hearing closes.

Planning Director Sean Winter presented data requested by the commission: the city has 480 unique tax ID parcels zoned R‑2 (12 of those are common elements from site condos). Of the 480, six parcels are currently classified as vacant; four are institutional (including Central Grade School, a full city block). Winter reported the median R‑2 lot area is 8,267 square feet and the average lot area is about 12,500 square feet; the smallest R‑2 lot is 1,035 square feet and the largest is the Central Grade School parcel at nearly 200,000 square feet. For lot width, Winter said the average is 70 feet, the median is 50 feet, the minimum width 14 feet and the maximum 428 feet.

Winter explained the master plan recommends exploring higher density in…