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Council amends RS1/R1A residential code; ordinance adopted 6-1
Summary
The council adopted amendments to RS1 and R1A zoning standards to align large-lot rules with other residential districts, including allowing two-family dwellings in RS1, removing median site-width and prevailing setback requirements, and adding a 35% impervious cap for R1A; the ordinance passed 6-1 with Council Member Nelson opposed.
Bloomington's City Council adopted an ordinance Feb. 24 updating standards for RS1 (large-lot single-family) and R1A (restricted large-lot on septic) residential zoning districts, approving the measure on a 6-1 vote with Council Member Nelson opposed.
Planning staff said the update implements items the planning commission and council studied over multiple sessions, and aims to align RS1 and R1A bulk and performance standards more closely with the R1 district. Planning Manager Nick Johnson told the council the ordinance adds two-family dwellings to RS1, removes the median-site-width and prevailing-setback requirements, and imposes a 35% impervious-surface cap to close a regulatory loophole affecting one R1A parcel. "These neighborhoods are single-family residential development in areas of steep slopes, vegetation, wetlands, and developed as large lots," Johnson said, summarizing the districts' intent.
The planning commission had unanimously recommended approval after a public hearing, though it had earlier split 3-2 when discussing whether the TIF-style public-purpose finding for other items should apply. Council discussion ranged from preserving neighborhood character and environmental protections to concerns about how the ordinance could be used in future rezoning requests. Council Member D'Alessandro moved the ordinance; Council Member Carter seconded. The vote on the ordinance was 6-1; Nelson recorded the no vote. The council also approved summary publication of the ordinance by a 7-0 vote.
Staff told the council the R1A district remains distinct because several properties there use private septic rather than municipal sanitary sewer service. City staff said any future rezoning requests would be evaluated against the ordinance's intent statement and bulk standards and noted that lowering the minimum lot size would open more rezoning avenues. The ordinance takes effect following required publication and recording steps.
