Mesa planning board backs middle-housing code changes to allow duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes

The Mesa Planning and Zoning Board on Oct. 22 voted to recommend that the City Council adopt amendments to Title 11 of the Mesa City Code to permit middle housing types — including duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes and townhouses — in specified circumstances and to add related development standards.

The measures update multiple chapters of the zoning code to add or revise land‑use tables, define terms such as “duplex,” “triplex” and “middle housing,” and establish parking and development standards for those housing forms. A board member moved to adopt the staff recommendation; another member seconded. The motion passed and the board forwarded the recommendation to City Council for final action.

Board members and staff framed the change as a code update to expand housing choices. At the public‑comment segment, resident Aura Napoleon of 1007 W. 10th Street said she supports the middle‑housing amendments because they will “provide additional housing for folks that are in my family that need to have those options available to us.”

Staff presented the ordinance language already drafted to add definitions and eligibility requirements for middle housing, and to modify land‑use tables and footnotes to permit those dwelling types in some zones with new standards. The board moved and voted on the full consent recommendation to adopt the middle‑housing amendments at the meeting; the item will now go to the City Council for consideration and possible adoption.

The ordinance package as presented will also modify the definition of single‑residence attached and add terms including “structure attached,” “structure detached,” “structure semi‑detached” and “townhouse,” along with related parking and site‑plan standards. Board members did not request or make additional substantive changes to the middle‑housing text at the hearing.

If the City Council adopts the text amendments, developers and property owners in affected zones will gain a clearer code path to propose duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes and townhouses that meet the newly specified eligibility and development standards. The board vote sends the staff recommendation forward; council action is required to finalize the change.

Meeting context: the middle‑housing item was discussed in public comment then considered by the board during the Oct. 22 public hearing. The board recorded its recommendation at the meeting and referred the matter to the City Council for final action.