County planning committee outlines broad rewrite of zoning code, proposes new AR‑3 district and clearer accessory‑dwelling rules

At a May 6 Board of Commissioners work session, county planning staff and members of a zoning steering committee presented a draft overhaul of residential, business and industrial zoning standards that would add a new AR‑3 agricultural/residential district, revise AR‑1 and AR‑2 rules and introduce consistent tables of permitted uses across districts.

Planning presenter Chelsea (staff member) told the commissioners the draft changes add intent statements taken from the county comprehensive plan and that the steering committee emphasized consistency: “We are also referencing the table of permitted uses, so, you'll see that as well,” she said, describing a single, shared approach to permitted uses and development tables.

The draft leaves AR‑1 as a five‑acre minimum and would allow up to two residential units per lot — either two principal dwellings or one principal dwelling and one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) — increase maximum building height from 35 to 40 feet and set a 100‑foot minimum road frontage in many cases. AR‑2 would be set at a one‑acre minimum with one principal residence plus an option for a single ADU; the committee recommended language restricting AR‑2 to family/estate subdivisions and…