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Board upholds planning commission denial of Tropical Treehouse duplex amendment; supervisors debate future duplex rules in agricultural zones
Summary
The board reviewed a special-exception amendment seeking to broaden occupancy of a duplex (originally permitted for farm workers) and, after discussion and a failed motion to allow 50% general rental, left the planning commission denial in place; supervisors debated whether duplexes should be allowed in A-1/agricultural zoning.
The board took up a special-exception amendment for a duplex on Green Hill Road known in the record as Tropical Treehouse. The applicant sought to allow one half of the duplex to be rented to non–farm-worker tenants while retaining the other half for H-2A/visa farm workers tied to the applicant's operation.
Background and planning commission action: Planning staff described that the board previously tabled a request to remove a condition limiting occupancy to farm workers. The planning commission considered an amendment to allow farm workers countywide to occupy one half of the duplex; planning commissioners, noting land-use and comp-plan concerns about duplexes in rural/agricultural districts, recommended denial by a 7–0 vote with one abstention (Mr. Lovell) because he had done prior survey work for the site.
Board discussion and outcome: The board opened the required public hearing; the applicant and at least one adjacent landowner said they had no objections. Several supervisors said they sympathized with the owner’s investment but also emphasized adherence to the county’s comprehensive plan and the planning commission’s recommendation. One supervisor moved to allow the owner to rent up to 50% of the duplex to the general public while keeping 50% for H-2A workers, but the motion failed for lack of a second. With no successful motion to overturn the planning commission’s recommendation, the planning commission decision to deny the requested amendment remained in effect.
Why it matters: Supervisors debated whether duplexes should be permitted in A-1/agricultural zoning at all. Staff said duplexes are typically meant for more urbanized areas and that the zoning text and comp plan favor limiting them in the country. One planning proposal that staff said they plan to bring to the planning commission would remove duplexes from A-1 zoning, keeping duplexes allowed in higher-density districts.
Ending: The board asked staff to prepare draft zoning amendments and to bring the duplex question to a future public hearing, and left the Tropical Treehouse amendment denied per the planning commission’s recommendation.
