OPCD outlines permanent HB 11‑10 zoning changes: density, stacked‑flat bonus, tree protections and parking adjustments

The Office of Planning and Community Development (OPCD) and the mayor’s office presented the permanent neighborhood‑residential zoning legislation (cited in the meeting as Council Bill 120933) during the June 5 select-committee briefing. Brennan Staley (presenter listed in the transcript as Brennan/Bridal Staley) described a comprehensive replacement of the code section governing neighborhood residential zones intended to comply with state law and to implement the comprehensive plan’s growth strategy.

What the permanent zoning ordinance proposes

- Density and lot rules: the proposal replaces prior neighborhood‑residential standards with a new framework that, as described in the briefing, generally allows one principal unit per 1,250 square feet of lot area while retaining a 5,000 square‑foot minimum lot size. The presenters explained the intent is to allow proportionally more units on larger lots without encouraging subdivision solely to increase unit counts. Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) were described in the briefing as counting toward density totals.

- Floor area ratio (FAR), height and setbacks: FAR would increase with unit counts up to 1.2 on a 5,000‑square‑foot lot in the examples shown. Maximum height for…