The Planning Commission on Nov. 20 considered RZ2510, a text amendment that adjusts lot‑width standards in the Arnold Mill Road Hamlet overlay to protect a 100‑foot rural viewshed along Arnold Mill while promoting a hamlet development pattern.

Zoning manager Robin McDonald explained the three‑part proposal: (1) maintain a 100' minimum and 120' maximum for lots with front or rear property lines adjacent to Arnold Mill; (2) set a 200' minimum (the draft included a 200'–220' band) for residential lots that have a side property line adjacent to Arnold Mill, with the first 100' serving as the required rural viewshed; and (3) require a 150' minimum for interior non‑cul‑de‑sac lots within the overlay to align with AG‑1 standards.

Commissioners questioned why a maximum lot width (220') was needed on side‑adjacent lots and raised concerns about restricting a property owner’s ability to hold or combine lots. Staff said the maximum was intended to encourage hamlet‑style narrower frontages with deeper lots, but acknowledged that combining lots or developing differently remains possible under other procedures.

After discussion, Commissioner Burrows moved to recommend approval of RZ2510 with one amendment: strike the proposed 220‑foot maximum for side‑adjacent lots and keep a 200‑foot minimum. That motion, seconded by Commissioner McNeese, passed with 3 ayes and 1 abstention. Staff will forward the commission’s recommendation and the requested amendment to City Council for final action.

What’s next: The amendment (with the commission’s recommended change) will be forwarded to City Council; developers and property owners in the Arnold Mill nodes should review the revised lot‑width parameters before further platting.