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TRC continues tiny-home neighborhood center review to allow designs for fire access, unit count and tree preservation
Summary
The TRC continued review of a proposed neighborhood tiny-home center so the applicant can provide a fire-access exhibit, clarify how 'kitchens' are counted for density, and submit tree-preservation and LID narratives; the committee set an upcoming date for resubmittal.
The TRC opted to continue the neighborhood center tiny-home application after staff raised several unresolved technical issues including fire access radius and hydrant coverage, whether units require sprinklers, how kitchens are defined for density calculations, building separation for stacked units, and how a tree preservation area could coexist with on-site swales.
Fire and safety: Staff noted a 150-foot access radius is used to determine when sprinklers are required; the applicant was asked to show a 150-foot coverage radius from likely fire-truck positions and demonstrate hydrant access. A staff member said, "So Could you show, like, a 150 radius for each of those points on a plan" and asked the applicant to submit an exhibit demonstrating coverage.
Density and unit definitions: Committee members and building staff discussed how the number of kitchens defines dwelling-unit counts under the city’s density rules and the Live Local incentive. Staff said the site is at the maximum allowed by the comp plan for 20 dwelling units per acre and that the current layout generates counting issues; the applicant agreed to provide a unit-count calculation and supplemental floor plans showing stacked configurations to resolve separation and kitchen counts.
Tree preservation and LID: The applicant proposed locating tree preservation inside a bioswale/micro-pond area because existing tree clusters were limited; staff raised concerns about maintenance access and root disturbance during swale cleaning and asked for a narrative and design showing how trees would be protected while allowing maintenance.
Disposition: The committee voted to continue the item to the next TRC/ERC cycle to allow the applicant time to produce a hydrant/coverage exhibit, a unit-count calculation and floor-plan exhibits, and a tree-preservation narrative tied to LID practices. Staff said they would accept a resubmittal timed to make the next TRC meeting packet so Planning Board schedules or further TRC review could proceed.
