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Oro Valley working group weighs housing options, state preapproved designs and design-standard language
Summary
Participants discussed housing variety, a state law requiring preapproved home designs, manufactured homes policy, and whether to use "high quality design" language in the plan; the group recommended replacing "high quality" with a milder term such as "quality" or "enhanced."
Residents and planning staff debated several housing-related items in the draft 10-year plan, including how the plan should treat apartment development, manufactured homes, and references to "high quality design."
Staff noted Action 2-43 implements a recent state law that requires jurisdictions to publish preapproved home designs for certain attached housing types and accessory dwelling units by 2027. "Action 2 43 reflects a recent state law that requires all jurisdictions to publish preapproved home designs ... by 2027," Malini Sims said.
On housing types, participants discussed middle-housing options (townhomes, duplexes, low-rise apartments) as stepping-stones to ownership. McKenna and others argued that lower-rise apartments can be a pathway to homeownership for younger residents; McKenna said removing opportunities for renter-friendly housing could make it harder for young adults to remain in Oro Valley.
Manufactured homes prompted specific conversation. Sims explained that manufactured homes are now allowed only in one zoning district (the Highlands Mobile Home Park) and that the draft action would create parameters so that site-delivered manufactured or tiny homes could be allowed only where they fit the town's character, not throughout Oro Valley.
Participants also questioned the phrase "high quality design," worrying that it might be perceived as exclusionary or could be read to raise construction costs. Planning manager Bayar Bella described how Oro Valley standards require architectural treatments on all four sides of a model home to maintain a consistent appearance. Multiple participants suggested replacing "high quality" with "quality" or "enhanced" and adding short examples (for instance, exterior architectural elements required on all sides) so readers understand the intent without imposing undue cost burdens.
Staff said the implementation details for any design-standard changes would come later through code updates and that existing zoning rights and public-review processes (neighborhood meetings, Planning and Zoning, Town Council) would still apply to rezoning or exceptions.
