Newcastle planners review middle‑housing and ADU code changes, discuss unit‑lot subdivision and design standards

At its March 26 meeting the Newcastle Planning Commission heard a detailed presentation from Associate Planner Tyler Coyle and Development Director Fitzgibbons on draft code changes aimed at implementing recent state middle‑housing and accessory dwelling unit (ADU) laws.

The proposed amendments respond to state bills identified at the meeting (HB 1110 and HB 2123 for middle housing; HB 1337 for ADUs) and the Department of Commerce model middle‑housing ordinance. Coyle told commissioners that the city must align its zoning with the state rules or risk having the state model code temporarily override Newcastle’s local regulations.

Coyle, Associate Planner Tyler Coyle, outlined the main changes: allowing duplexes on all buildable lots in single‑family zones, adopting unit‑lot subdivision to permit fee‑simple ownership of units that were previously condominium interests, and revising ADU rules to reflect state limits. “We need to allow duplexes on all conforming lots in single family zones,” Coyle said while explaining the statute‑driven requirement and options for where denser middle‑housing types could be allowed beyond duplexes.

Why it matters: state law sets deadlines and a model ordinance; if Newcastle does not adopt compliant local code by the state’s deadline, the model ordinance (and any bolded required provisions identified by the Department of Commerce) would govern locally until the city adopts its own replacements. Commissioners and staff emphasized the goal of retaining local control by adopting a compliant local code on the state timeline.

Key provisions and discussion points described at the meeting

- Duplexes and middle housing: The draft would require that…