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Commission discusses resurrecting UDC committee after state bills; commissioners push for shared-access/connectivity
Summary
Commissioners asked staff to resurrect the Unified Development Code review committee to incorporate recent state bills, including a Senate change to 3,000 square feet for a minimum-lot-size measure, and to consider connectivity/shared-access requirements.
Commissioners asked staff to resurrect the City’s Unified Development Code review committee to incorporate several state bills and local priorities, including increased minimum lot sizes and new accessory-dwelling-unit regulations.
Andrew Demaswood, Development Services, told commissioners that several bills moving through the state legislature will require local code updates. “The 1 that we've been watching the most was concerning 1,400 square foot acres. That changed on the floor last night to 3,000 square feet and passed, the senate,” Demaswood said. He said related bills on accessory dwelling units, setbacks and height restrictions will need to be “vetted by the DS tag” and inserted into the UDC before Sept. 1.
A commissioner asked that the committee include connectivity and shared-access standards — rules that require private developments to provide vehicular or pedestrian connections between adjacent sites. The commissioner said examples on SPID at Yorktown and in other cities demonstrate more connectivity: “...you could literally take you know, drive through every commercial building and get from 1 major street to the other if you wanted to because they're all required to connect. So I know we used to have something like that many years ago, and it got taken out.” The commissioner added, “I would like to see, the issue of connectivity put on there for items like we were just discussing.”
Demaswood acknowledged the request and said he would note it for the UDC committee work. “I will. Please. Just keep keep — It would be nice to see,” he said, indicating staff will bring the topic into the update process. No formal motion was taken; commissioners and staff discussed future agenda items and the schedule for code changes.
Commissioners also noted that the proposed 3,000-square-foot language aligns with existing lot patterns in some neighborhoods. Demaswood described the change as “more in line with what we see shotgun style on the West side of the city.” Details about any committee membership, meeting schedule or specific draft code language were not specified in the meeting.
