Planning commission recommends approval of RM, RPUD and open-space code amendments

The Nibley Planning Commission on a majority vote recommended approval of amendments to several sections of the city code covering the Mixed Residential (RM) zone, Residential Planned Unit Developments (RPUD/PUD), Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) and open-space subdivision standards.

Planning staff presented the draft changes, saying the amendments aim to direct RM zoning to appropriate plan areas, disperse rather than concentrate higher-density residential development, and provide clearer incentives for mixed-use projects. Planning staff said, “There was a public hearing on this last meeting, but there are pretty substantial changes,” and summarized adjustments made after that initial hearing.

The commission’s recommendation would: set a minimum RM zone size of 10 acres and a maximum of 40 acres; lower the RPUD minimum zone size from 40 to 20 acres and raise RPUD base density from 5 to 7 units per net developed acre; limit where RM zoning may be applied to areas designated as high-density residential or town center on the future land use map; require a 10% ground-floor commercial component for projects that are within 200 feet of a state highway frontage or within 400 feet of the…