Planning commission recommends denial for rezoning at 272 West 700 South over lot-width shortfall

The Washington City Planning Commission voted on May 7 to recommend denial of Z-25-11, a request to rezone roughly 0.31 acres at 272 West 700 South from R-16 to R-2. Staff said the R-2 zone would allow a duplex (two units) on the parcel; the applicant said the plan is to build a two-unit townhome-style duplex with separate tax IDs so family members could occupy separate units.

A central issue before the commission was lot width. City staff and commissioners noted the R-2 zone requires a minimum lot width of 70 feet. Commissioners and staff measured existing plat lines and setbacks and found the parcel measures about 68 feet, short of the R-2 minimum by approximately two feet. Commissioners discussed alternatives — building a single house with an internal accessory dwelling unit under the current R-16 zoning, lot-line adjustments with adjacent property owners, or asking city council for a variance — but emphasized the planning commission’s role is technical and that the council can decide variance requests.

Applicant Kaisen Goodspeed spoke at the hearing and said he and his cousin plan to live in the two units and that much of the immediate neighborhood comprises family-owned properties. Staff said the location’s general plan land-use designation supports R-2 in concept, but the parcel as surveyed does not meet the 70-foot minimum for straight R-2 zoning.

Commissioner Anderson moved to recommend denial based on the parcel’s 68-foot width; Commissioner Scheel seconded. The commission voted 5–0 to recommend denial to city council. The commission noted the denial is limited to the technical nonconformity (width) and that council may consider a variance if the applicant requests it.