Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Sacramento staff backs 'moderate' missing‑middle rules and local SB 79 procedure, commissioners press for simpler standards
Summary
Planning staff recommended a moderate approach to enshrine missing‑middle housing standards consistent with the 2040 General Plan and a local implementing ordinance for SB 79; commissioners and builders urged cutting costly design and process barriers — especially bulk control and strict third‑floor dormer rules — to make three‑story, small‑scale multiunit housing feasible across more neighborhoods.
City planning staff recommended on March 26 that the Planning and Design Commission endorse a moderate, citywide approach to missing‑middle housing standards and adopt a local implementing ordinance to align the zoning code with SB 79.
Jamie Mosler, associate planner for long‑range planning, summarized the zoning‑consistency work required under the 2040 General Plan and reviewed three outcomes tied to floor‑area ratio (FAR): house scale (FAR ≈1), midscale (illustrated at 1.5 FAR) and block scale (FAR ≈2). Mosler said 19 projects have been approved under the interim MMH ordinance, with an average FAR of 0.4, an average density of about 18 dwelling units per acre and roughly three units per lot.
"Tonight we're asking PDC to review and comment on high‑level concepts and policies," Mosler said, describing staff's recommendation for a moderate level of change that would create objective standards for both house‑scale and upper…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
