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Staff proposes new R‑5 and density changes for R‑3/R‑4 zones; council asks for site examples
Summary
Planning staff outlined a package that would raise allowable densities in some multifamily zones, proposing an R‑5 category at about 25 units per acre and making R‑4 closer to 'Station South' at 18 units per acre. Commissioners asked staff to identify candidate parcels and examples before advancing any rezoning process.
Planning staff proposed creating a new R‑5 residential zone and adjusting density caps for R‑3 and R‑4 to clarify multifamily development rules.
Under the draft, R‑4 would align with a Station South-type density of about 18 units per acre, while a new R‑5 would permit roughly 25 units per acre (approximately 7,500 square feet per unit in multifamily calculations). Staff said the intent is to make unit-per-acre math consistent and to provide an option for higher density where appropriate; the Station Central designation was noted separately as allowing still higher densities in transit-focused locations.
Commissioners expressed caution about a 25-units-per-acre allowance, noting that at a 35-foot height cap the result would be a large surface-area footprint. Staff said any rezoning would be subject to public notice and the regular application process, which would allow case-by-case review. Members asked staff to return with specific parcels and visual examples showing how 18 or 25 units per acre would appear in local neighborhoods before any formal zone changes proceeded.
Staff noted available vacant parcels and underutilized R‑4 lots that might be candidates but said many would require consolidation or infrastructure extensions to support higher density. No rezoning or ordinance change was adopted at the meeting.
