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Commission backs RP district change to allow rear‑loaded townhouses with adjusted setbacks
Summary
The Planning Commission recommended that the Board of Supervisors adopt text amendments enabling rear‑loaded (alley‑served) townhouses in the RP Residential Performance district with reduced front setbacks and clarified parking/open‑space provisions; staff and the DRRC recommended approval, and commissioners voted to forward the amendment.
At the Jan. 7 meeting the commission considered a staff text amendment to the RP Residential Performance district to explicitly allow rear‑loaded (alley/garage in rear) townhouses with reduced front setbacks and modified side/rear setback standards.
Planner Eric Vanderplaner said the amendment would add a 15‑foot front setback for rear‑loaded townhouses, adjust side and rear setback options and preserve existing RP open‑space and parking requirements. Staff circulated the draft to Frederick Water and the fire marshal; Frederick Water flagged potential utility/easement concerns that staff said would be addressed at site plan review and the fire marshal confirmed minimum alley widths tied to fire code.
Supporters, including a Pennoni Associates representative and a former housing‑authority director who has developed townhouses, said the change would provide a modern, walkable product and broaden housing choices in the county. Opponents cautioned about loss of usable private green space at scale and urged mandatory usable yard or canopy requirements if the product is to be more widely adopted.
The commission voted to recommend approval of the dimensional amendments as presented; the packet will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for public hearing on Jan. 28, 2026.
