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Council delays zoning amendment on duplex lot-size standards to Jan. 5 after debate over housing supply
Summary
Councilors debated PCO 27-25, an amendment to zoning rules that would reinstate dimensional standards for duplexes; proponents said the change restores omitted standards and clarifies special-use permit review, while opponents said the draft would make building two-family units harder and could worsen the local housing shortage. The council voted to hold the measure to Jan. 5 for further review and staff input.
The council took up PCO 27-25, a second-passage zoning amendment that adjusts standards for fences, drive-through clearances and — most prominently — dimensional requirements for two-family houses in residential districts.
Supporters said the amendment corrects an inadvertent omission from a prior zoning update by reintroducing dimensional metrics the zoning board needs to evaluate special-use permits for duplexes. Bill Fazendi, chief staff, said the change "puts back the dimensional standards" so the zoning board has clear criteria to approve or deny special-use permits.
Opponents, led by Councilman Ricks, argued that raising lot-size and setback requirements for duplexes would reduce the potential for two-family construction in single-family zones and make it harder to add housing stock. Ricks framed the issue as part of a larger housing-supply concern, saying tighter dimensions would prevent units that otherwise would have been built inside existing footprints.
Council members asked for more time and for Planning Director Tom Kravitz to appear with technical analysis; Ricks proposed an amendment to align duplex dimensional requirements with single-family standards, but withdrew that motion pending staff input. The council adopted a motion to hold PCO 27-25 to the Jan. 5 meeting to permit additional review and a briefing from planning staff.
Next steps: Planning Director Kravitz or his designee is expected to brief the council on the intended effects of reinstating the dimensional table and on real-world issues the zoning board has faced; the item will return to council on Jan. 5.
