Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Lot Standards topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Plan Commission recommends smaller minimum lot sizes in several residential districts to reduce nonconformities
Summary
Consultants presented an analysis of existing minimum lot-area and width standards and recommended lower minimums for multiple residential districts so more existing parcels would be conforming and additional subdivision opportunities would be possible in some neighborhoods.
Consultants presented a lot-standards applicability analysis and recommended changes to minimum lot area and width that would reduce the number of nonconforming parcels across residential districts and create limited opportunities for subdivision where appropriate.
The report tested alternative minimums against the parcel record and recommended the following minima to reduce nonconformities while remaining consistent with neighborhood character: RS2 — 12,000 square feet and 80-foot lot width (recommended scenario used in analysis); RS3 — 8,000 square feet and 50-foot width; RD2 — 8,000 square feet and 50-foot width; RM1 — 5,500 square feet and 40-foot width; RM3 — 4,500 square feet and 40-foot width. The consultants showed how these changes would sharply reduce the share of parcels that currently fail to meet district minima and demonstrated an interactive nonconformity viewer for commission review.
Commissioners discussed how the changes would bring many existing older, narrow-platted lots into conformance and how new subdivision opportunities would most likely occur on deeper lots or larger vacant parcels; several commissioners said the changes would not change neighborhood character where lots already are narrow. Commissioners also noted this could incentivize demolition and infill where deteriorated houses stand on deeper lots; that outcome was described as gradual and site-driven rather than a wholesale change to neighborhoods.
The consultant said the city would not be changing minimum lot depths; the analysis focused on area and width. Commissioners asked for example parcels and the team demonstrated how the proposed minima would affect a sample set of properties. Staff said they would bring district text and dimensional tables back for commission review in the next drafting phase.
