Commission approves housekeeping zoning changes: 'single‑family' references replaced and duplex/triplex definitions added

The Muskegon City Commission approved a pair of zoning housekeeping amendments on Tuesday to reflect earlier zoning reform and to add definitions for duplexes and triplexes.

Commissioners approved replacing references to “single‑family residential districts” with “neighborhood residential districts” throughout the zoning ordinance. Planning staff said the change is clerical and needed because a prior zoning reform removed single‑family zoning district names and established neighborhood residential districts in their place.

The commission also approved adding explicit definitions for duplex and triplex units. Planning staff said a definition for duplexes existed under a two‑family residential heading but adding a clear duplex definition and a new triplex definition will make the code consistent with newer documents such as the city’s form‑based code. The planning commission suggested minor language tweaks to make definitions uniform.

Commissioner questions focused on future work to update the city’s definition of “family.” Planning staff said changes to the family definition will be discussed at a March work session, including consideration of single‑room occupancy and more modern household definitions.

Both items passed by unanimous roll call.

Ending: City staff described both votes as clerical alignment and preparatory work to make the zoning ordinance consistent with the newly adopted zoning framework; a separate work session will address the family definition.