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Planner outlines RM-11 zoning amendments as commission debates lot-width, density and open-space standards
Summary
Planner Kendall Welch presented draft clarifications to the RM-11 zoning district that would add standards for minimum lot sizes for townhomes, caps on project size/density, minimum usable open space, and clearer setback rules; commissioners requested more research, site visits and input from local developers before settling numbers.
Kendall Welch, a planner with Mill Engineering, presented a detailed draft of proposed amendments to the RM-11 zoning district, aimed at reducing ambiguity that now forces many projects through development agreements.
Welch said the current code's baseline minimum lot size (8,000 square feet) and additional requirements for two-family units (+3,500 square feet) are unclear for attached products such as townhomes and twin homes. She proposed clearer, product-specific minimums and definitions and suggested a workable lot-width range for townhome interior lots of roughly 25 to 35 feet, noting other cities land between 25 and 40 feet.
Commissioners discussed potential caps on project acreage (five to six acres) and a dwelling-unit ceiling for larger RM-11 projects, along with a proposal to require a percentage of usable open space (25% of project with minimum 300 sq ft usable areas). Side-yard and zero-foot attached-unit setbacks were discussed as a way to accommodate townhome products while preserving usable yards.
Members asked staff to research comparable developments, take field visits, and solicit feedback from local developers before returning with refined draft language. Staff also suggested adding diagrams and clear definitions to the code to reduce future reliance on development agreements.
Next steps: staff will collect comparative examples, confirm proposed numeric thresholds with the development community and return with refined amendment language for further commission review.
