Millville adopts consolidated residential zoning code with rounded lot-size figures

Millville City Council adopted Ordinance 2026-1 on April 9, 2026, consolidating the cityresidential zoning chapters and adding an option for a one-acre minimum lot size.

Development Coordinator Kara Everton presented the draft ordinance, which combines residential zones into a single chapter and offers a 1-acre minimum lot-size option. The draft before the council used rounded acreage figures that match the existing codeapproach. Councilmember Darcy Ripplinger said she would prefer exact square-foot numbers instead of rounded acreages because residents have asked for precision. Planning Commission Chairman Garrett Greenhalgh, representing the Planning Commissionrecord, said Millville is the only city in the county that rounds lot-size requirements and supported moving to exact square-foot figures.

Councilmembers debated the trade-offs: preserving continuity with historical practice versus adopting precise square-foot numbers. Councilmember Pamela June moved to adopt Ordinance 2026-1 "as provided today with the rounded acreage lot sizes." Councilmember Ryan Zollinger seconded; Councilmembers Ward, June, Ames, Ripplinger and Zollinger voted yes and the ordinance was adopted.

Recorder Corey Twedt said the version before the council reflected adjustments requested at a February meeting. The adopted ordinance is included in the meeting packet as Attachment C and updates multiple sections of Title 17 (Zoning), including the addition of the R-43 and R-87 minimum lot tables and private-lane provisions.

The council also discussed and declined to enact a moratorium on zone changes while a new General Plan is prepared, citing potential impacts on Town Center-area properties and noting the General Plan process could take a year or more.

Next steps: Staff will update code publication materials and post the adopted ordinance and revised zoning maps.