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Commission recommends new townhome building type with design and parking rules for infill
Summary
Planners proposed and the commission recommended a text amendment creating a townhome building type for infill: attached rental units (up to five attached per building, up to eight per site), parking relief for three-bedroom modules, and design standards to ensure street-facing units; motion passed by voice vote.
Unidentified Speaker 3 introduced a proposal to create a new townhome building type in the zoning code to facilitate smaller-scale infill housing. The draft would treat townhomes as a distinct dwelling type when units are not on individual lots (three or more attached units) and would allow a parking reduction for a three-bedroom module (two spaces per unit rather than a per-bedroom rate). The proposal limits townhome buildings to five attached units or fewer and allows up to eight units on a site in certain configurations.
Staff emphasized design expectations to avoid garage-dominated, perpendicular 'slot' layouts and said end units should present a residential face to the street. The draft would apply in targeted zones where attached units or apartment projects are already allowed; the PUD process remains available for larger or alternative proposals. The commission discussed applying the townhome option within university impact overlays to encourage conversions and infill near campus.
A motion to recommend approval of the text amendment (with size limitations, design requirements, and parking reduction for three-bedroom-or-less units, and to allow the townhome type in specified zoning districts and the university overlay) was moved and seconded. Commissioners answered 'Aye' and the motion passed by voice vote. Staff will include the change in the formal ordinance to be forwarded to city council.
