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Carefree staff propose minimum home-size rule to align zoning with state 'pre‑approved standard plan' law
Summary
At a Planning & Zoning public hearing, staff proposed adding a minimum floor‑area line to Table 6.1 of the Carefree Zoning Ordinance to set baseline home sizes by lot category, limit oversized casitas and align the town with a state requirement for pre‑approved standard home and casita plans.
At a public hearing, Carefree planning staff asked the Planning & Zoning Commission to recommend a text amendment that would add a minimum floor‑area requirement to Article 6 (the intensity schedule and development standards) of the town’s zoning ordinance.
The presenter told commissioners the change is intended both to comply with a new state requirement that municipalities provide pre‑approved standard home and casita plans and to ‘‘ensure new homes align with existing neighborhood scale,’’ noting Carefree’s lots range from about 10,000 to 190,000 square feet. The proposed amendment would add a minimum livable‑area row to Table 6.1 and scale required minimums by zoning district and lot size.
The proposal defines the minimums as livable area and explicitly excludes covered porches, pergolas, garages and attached casitas from the calculation. Staff also described how accessory casitas would be limited: a casita’s total livable area could not exceed one‑third of the primary residence’s livable area; the presenter used a simple example: ‘‘If your livable area is 3,000 square feet, a casita total cannot exceed 1,000 square feet.’’
During public comment, a resident who identified himself as Ray said his home is ‘‘half casita and half house’’ and asked how an existing home would be treated if he remodels. Staff replied that pre‑existing conditions are typically treated as legal nonconforming situations and that significant additions or expansions would require a case‑by‑case review under the town’s development standards.
Staff said the measure is intended to give clarity ahead of state compliance deadlines for the pre‑approved standard‑plan legislation and described two basic implementation approaches: the town can curate its own set of standard plans (more local control) or create a library that allows architects to submit standard plans for permitting. Staff said the town has budgeted funds for plan development and expects to acquire multiple sets in varying sizes.
The commission closed the public hearing after receiving public comment and discussion. The item will proceed as a recommendation to the Town Council for further action.
What happens next: staff will present a refined draft and recommendation to the Town Council, and the town’s stakeholder and neighborhood meetings will continue as the ordinance is finalized.
