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Planners send zoning‑code definitions — 'acre' and 'developable acre' — to council for approval
Summary
Willard planners voted to forward an amendment to the city zoning code that defines an acre as 43,560 square feet and clarifies 'developable acre' (net area excluding wetlands, steep slopes, roads, parks and other unbuildable areas) to make density calculations consistent.
The Willard City Planning Commission voted April 2 to recommend that the City Council adopt an amendment to the city zoning code to define "acre" and "developable acre."
Staff explained the amendment is intended to remove confusion about alternate measurements sometimes used by developers (so‑called "builder acres") and to clarify how density will be calculated. "Acre, we wanna make sure it was clear to all developers that it is meant 43,560 square feet of land," said a Staff member. The staff presentation also defined developable acre as the portion of a tract actually usable for constructing buildings, houses or infrastructure, excluding wetlands, steep slopes, roads, flood drains, sensitive areas, contamination, public parks and stormwater facilities.
Commissioners sought clarification on whether the change would affect existing half‑acre splits and whether public parks would count toward density calculations. Maddie (Staff member) responded that the amendment clarifies that a half‑acre lot must be a true half acre for development purposes and that public parks are treated separately under open‑space rules. "It just means that it has to be that half acre lot has to be a true half acre," Maddie said.
A motion to recommend the amendment was made, seconded and approved; the item will be forwarded to the City Council for its consideration.
