Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission approves ADU and townhome code changes, allows one extra ADU by SUP (with downtown exception)
Summary
City planners’ package to broaden accessory dwelling unit (ADU) allowances and lower mixed‑use townhome lot minimums passed the Planning & Zoning Commission 6–0 after the body added a modification: property owners may apply for one additional ADU by specific use permit (SUP), except within 1.5 miles of the downtown square where the SUP is not required.
The Planning & Zoning Commission voted unanimously to recommend a multi‑part package of amendments to the Denton Development Code intended to expand opportunities for missing‑middle housing.
Key elements the commission approved include: expanding where ADUs are permitted to include some mixed‑use districts, clarifying ADU sizing and measurement (a 800‑sq‑ft minimum and a maximum of 75% of the primary dwelling’s area), permitting ADUs to be attached or detached with site design controls, and changing townhome lot‑size rules so that mixed‑use districts may allow 1,000‑sq‑ft townhome lots to better fit infill contexts. Staff also refined open‑space thresholds so smaller infill projects and projects near parks are treated differently.
Public input and staff notes: Staff reported community engagement of several meetings and an online survey (~54–55 responses) with general support. A handful of residents urged stronger enforcement and compatibility controls; resident Dana Zoltner presented photographs of existing accessory structures she described as visually incompatible in established neighborhoods. Staff reiterated that design standards would require ADUs visible from the public right‑of‑way to demonstrate architectural compatibility.
Commission amendment and rationale: Commissioners debated parking, safety, enforcement and neighborhood character. To balance flexibility and neighborhood concerns, the commission approved a staff‑recommended package with a modification to allow one additional ADU per lot through a specific use permit (SUP) (subject to a four‑dwelling‑unit cap so the use does not convert to multifamily). The chair also recorded an exception: properties within 1.5 miles of the downtown square may seek the extra ADU without an SUP to facilitate housing near the city core. Commissioners said staff should monitor outcomes and return to the commission if persistent problems emerge.
Outcome and next steps: The commission voted 6–0 to recommend the package with the modification; staff will prepare ordinance language and track implementation issues and enforcement questions raised during public comment.
