Board approves 22‑lot cottage subdivision at 3310 Oakland Gravel Road

The Columbia Board of Adjustment approved optional cottage development standards for a proposed 22‑lot single‑family subdivision at 3310 Oakland Gravel Road, a 5.09‑acre tract proposed as “Total Majak Village” (Case 241‑2025).

The board voted 5‑0 to allow reduced lot frontages and dimensional standards that will enable 22 single‑family detached homes on the preliminary plat submitted to planning staff. The motion recorded by staff set 20‑foot front and rear setbacks and 6‑foot side setbacks consistent with the preliminary plat. The vote was Norgard, Hammond, Minshew, Rogers and Sharp in favor.

Applicant presentations said the development will use cottage dimensional standards to provide smaller‑footprint detached homes that the applicant and staff described as “gentle density” consistent with the city’s housing study and the comprehensive plan. Jay Gebhart of Civil Group presented the preliminary plat and said the project includes tree preservation, a detention pond, and a drainage easement that limits buildable area on some lots. Jesus Mendez, listed as the property owner, is the proposed builder.

Staff (Pat Zenner) explained the cottage standard route is used because the proposed lot frontages (42 feet) are below the R2 minimum of 60 feet. Staff said the subdivision was processed concurrently with a rezoning to R2 and a preliminary plat reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission; planning recommended approval and the preliminary plat cannot proceed to City Council without the board’s action on the dimensional standards.

Key technical details in the record: the site totals about 5.09 acres; most lots will be deep but narrower in frontage (proposed 42‑foot widths, with the cottage standard minimum allowed as low as 30 feet); one lot has a minor rear easement encroachment (16 feet) that staff said would still meet the 20‑foot minimum because the drainage easement functionally becomes the effective setback line. Staff noted sidewalk exists along Oakland Gravel; the development will dedicate additional half‑width right‑of‑way on Oakland Gravel Road because the street is currently substandard for its classification.

Staff and the applicant said accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are not permitted on cottage lots. Zenner clarified that ADUs remain possible in some substandard‑lot scenarios under R2 rules but that the cottage‑lot option carries a specific prohibition on ADUs.

Board members asked about parking and traffic; staff’s traffic screening determined the 22‑lot project did not trigger turn‑lane or major street upgrades. Each lot is required to meet on‑site parking (two spaces per unit); the applicant said homes will be built with two‑car garages where practical. The applicant and staff discussed preserving at least 25% of qualified trees and locating stormwater detention and drainage infrastructure within common and lot easements.

The board recorded City exhibits including certified UDC subsections, the staff report, and notice materials. The motion approved the cottage dimensional standards as drawn on the preliminary plat; final plat approval and recording will follow City Council action and standard subdivision review steps.