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Kingman panel recommends reverting R-120 front setback from 30 to 20 feet; one commissioner dissents
Summary
The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended a zoning text amendment to reduce the minimum front yard setback in the R-120 zone from 30 feet to 20 feet, returning the standard used before a 2021 code adoption; the panel voted to forward the change to City Council with a 3-1 vote and one dissent.
The City of Kingman Planning and Zoning Commission on March 12 recommended that the City Council amend the zoning code to reduce the minimum front yard setback in the R-120 zone from 30 feet to 20 feet.
Ashley, Development Services staff, said the change would revert the requirement to the pre-2021 standard after the 2021 code adoption increased the setback from 20 to 30 feet. Staff said it is unclear whether the 2021 change was intentional or an error, and that the larger setback had forced staff to seek variances for several plats created under the earlier rule.
“At the request of the development community, staff researched this inconsistency and at the January 7 council meeting we received direction to bring back a city-initiated text amendment to revert this setback from 30 to 20 feet,” Ashley said. Staff recommended the Planning and Zoning Commission forward the amendment to the City Council for approval.
Commissioners questioned vehicle and trailer lengths and whether a 20-foot setback provides adequate space for common pickup trucks and travel trailers. Commissioner McCoy said a 20-foot driveway may not leave room between a vehicle and the street; other commissioners noted developers could choose to set homes back farther than the minimum on new plats. City Attorney Carl explained that zoning is not intended to regulate vehicle size and that encroachment into sidewalks or streets would be a violation.
One member of the public, Neil McDonald, urged larger lots and wider setbacks to accommodate vehicles and pools. Jason, Development Services staff, noted the amendment affects existing preliminary plats and that returning to 20 feet avoids creating many nonconforming lots that would otherwise need variances.
The commission voted to recommend the amendment to City Council. Chair Goss, Commissioner Sarkeesian and Commissioner Sixta voted to approve; Commissioner McCoy voted to deny. The recommendation now goes to the Mayor and City Council for final action.
