Hamilton County debate over ‘buildable area’ rule, Area 9 moratorium put to committee after months of public pushback

Hamilton County commissioners heard hours of testimony and staff briefing on two related proposals — one to base building permits on a site’s net "buildable area" instead of gross acreage, and another to impose a moratorium on zoning changes in Area 9 until the county’s Plan Hamilton document is adopted — and moved both items to committee for further review.

The net-area resolution, sponsored by Commissioner Highlander, would instruct county staff to subtract non-buildable features such as floodways, steep slopes, easements and decentralized wastewater system footprints from a property’s gross acreage when determining whether a lot qualifies for a building permit. Brian Schultz, a planner with the Regional Planning Agency (RPA), said RPA is preparing a draft report comparing gross and net density and that the agency’s work shows many technical choices are required before any ordinance change.

"What we're drafting would be an amendment to the zoning code," Schultz said, adding the…