Developers ask staff to study a narrow 40-foot lot zoning option; planning staff agrees to convene roundtable

At the close of the Feb. 5 meeting, representatives of the developers’ committee requested that planning staff explore a potential narrow-lot residential district (40-foot-wide lots, approximately 4,000 square feet, with modest side setbacks) or a new R-1C district to enable an urban infill product.

Why it matters: The request responds to demand for compact single-family lots that produce an "urban" look and more housing units per acre. If adopted, a new district could be used in locations with sewer and water to encourage smaller-lot single-family development and reduce reliance on planned-development overlays for similar outcomes.

What was proposed: Tim Balancey, speaking for the developers’ committee and as a T Bird Design representative, described a concept with 40-foot-wide lots, 100-foot depths (approximately 4,000 square feet), 5-foot side setbacks and options for rear-loaded or alley-access designs. Staff clarified that R-1U districts are geographically tied to urban sewer maps and that creating a new R-1C zoning district may be cleaner than changing R-1U maps because a new district could apply wherever sewer and water are available.

Committee action: The committee gave unanimous consent for staff to meet with the developers’ committee to study the concept and return with a proposal or findings to the Ordinance Committee at a future meeting.

Ending: Staff said it will convene a roundtable with developers and return with draft language or recommendations to the Ordinance Committee; no ordinance text was drafted at the Feb. 5 meeting.