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Planners, councilors debate ADUs, 'entryway' zone and density as Title 18 redline moves forward
Summary
During the April 30 joint workshop, planners walked through definition updates (ADU, junior ADU, group dwellings) and zoning district changes; councilors discussed deleting or preserving the 'entryway' corridor's design rules, R‑2 density changes, and how state ADU rules interact with local lot and setback standards.
At a special joint meeting on April 30, Willows City planners presented a redline draft of Title 18 that included numerous definition updates and proposed changes to zoning districts. The discussion covered accessory dwelling units (ADUs), junior ADUs, group dwellings, the 'entryway' corridor and density standards in R‑1, R‑2 and R‑3 districts.
Consultant Amy Rossig reviewed consolidated definitions intended to reduce redundancy across the code and align local language with state law. "There is doing some cleanup...there was 3 definitions of a daycare center. So I cleaned that up," Rossig said. Planners noted changes meant to conform to state requirements including new ADU terminology.
Junior ADUs and ADU impacts: Councilors asked how junior ADUs (defined in the draft as no more than 500 square feet and contained within a single‑family residence) would interact with lot coverage, setbacks and allowable unit counts. Planners said state law permits a main unit, an ADU and a junior ADU on a single lot—potentially increasing per‑lot unit counts—and that ADU-specific setback rules can override base zone standards where the state requires it.
Entryway district and commercial zones: Members revisited a proposed deletion of the 'entryway' zoning district, which consultants suggested folding into General Commercial while retaining specific corridor design elements as objective standards. Several council members urged preserving key design features (e.g., limits on drive‑throughs, lighting standards) for Wood Street and other corridors; planners suggested an overlay or corridor‑specific objective standards as alternatives.
Density and permitted uses: The draft rebrands R‑2 as "Medium Density" and sets density ranges drawn from the general plan (for example, 7 to 15 units per acre as a maximum design objective). Some members questioned allowing multifamily forms in R‑2 and asked whether the district is still useful as a transitional zone between single‑family and higher‑density areas.
Other housekeeping and uses: Councilors flagged missing or unclear definitions (massage therapists, fueling stations versus service stations), suggested consolidating similar uses, and asked staff to confirm consistency with state housing requirements and the general plan.
Next steps: Planners invited written comments and targeted redlines by May 20. The group agreed to a follow‑up meeting and possible virtual sessions to finish the second half of Title 18 and to manage consultant billable hours.
