Commission debates RM zone amendments: rear-loaded access, height, setbacks and fee-in-lieu options

The Nibley City Planning Commission held a workshop on March 20 to discuss draft amendments to the mixed residential (RM) zone. The session examined design standards, transitions to adjacent single-family neighborhoods, and options for required amenities and open space.

Levi Roberts, city planner, summarized staff's preliminary draft changes. Key points in the draft included reversing front/rear setback standards for rear-loaded multifamily units (20-foot rear setback and 15-foot front setback when units are alley- or rear-accessed), requiring rear-loaded access where feasible, reducing maximum building height to 40 feet if an RM project is within 300 feet of existing residential zones, limiting structure length and stories in transition areas (for example, restricting to two stories and 100 feet of building length adjacent to single-family lots), and removing mandatory clubhouse/pool/splash-pad requirements while offering a fee-in-lieu option for some amenity or open-space obligations.

Roberts said the draft language was staff's first attempt and that he had inadvertently omitted the full code text from the meeting packet; the draft will be refined and brought back. Several commissioners supported the rear-loaded access approach and the reduced height/length transitions, but they also raised points for clarification: whether the setback standards applied to attached garages or accessory buildings, how smaller or larger RM projects should be handled, and whether the RM zone should be limited by proximity to certain future land use designations rather than be freely applicable across the city. Commissioners suggested further work to align RM standards with sections of the RPUD code and to consider a size threshold so the RM zone is used for appropriately scaled projects.

Commissioners and staff discussed timing relative to ongoing general-plan updates and a recent council action on neighboring parcels. Members agreed staff should refine the draft language and return with a posted public hearing version. Roberts said he would revise the code language, clarify the setback/garage rules, and coordinate with the RPUD standards where appropriate.

No votes were taken; the workshop generated direction to prepare a refined draft ordinance and exhibit for a future public hearing and formal recommendation.