Zoning committee sends four duplex special-exception petitions to full council

The Zoning & Annexation Committee voted unanimously to send multiple special‑exception petitions for two‑unit dwellings to the full council with favorable recommendations.

Tim Stow, the city zoning presenter, introduced four petitions on the committee agenda: Bill 14‑26 (915 Harrison, side‑by‑side duplex), Bill 56‑26 (1245 East Madison, side‑by‑side duplex), Bill 16‑26 (1010 Fjordbanger, preapproved stacked‑flats duplex) and Bill 18‑26 (1249 Corby Blvd, side‑by‑side duplex). Stow told the committee each application was consistent with the city comprehensive plan’s objective to encourage a mix of housing types; he also said the Board of Zoning Appeals sent each petition forward with a favorable recommendation.

Presenters and applicants described project specifics and community intent: Kathy Shuth, executive director of Near Northwest Neighborhood (NNN), said NNN will self‑manage a duplex at 915 Harrison targeted at roughly 60% area median income and that the organization used Community Development Block Grant funding and a city land transfer to advance the project. “These will rent for $10.50 dollars a month, including utilities,” Shuth said in the record (as stated); she also reported an applicant waitlist for similar units in the neighborhood. Nathan Sprunger and other petitioners described design approaches to blend new duplex units into existing neighborhood character; several speakers said the lots had been vacant for decades.

Across the four items, the committee recorded no public testimony in favor or opposition during the hearings. Each motion to forward the petitions to the Committee of the Whole or full council passed on unanimous committee votes. Committee members and staff noted the city is receiving multiple duplex petitions and that zoning code updates under review may address duplex standards in the future.