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Planning board narrows 'missing middle' code language; townhouses limited to two units in medium‑density districts
Summary
The Planning Board reviewed changes to the 'missing middle' section and gave unanimous nonbinding support to revised language that reduces allowable townhouses in medium‑density districts from up to four units to up to two units while permitting triplexes and fourplexes as multifamily in applicable districts.
At the May 12 Planning Board meeting, members reviewed proposed edits to the Land Development Code's "missing middle" provisions and indicated unanimous, nonbinding support to limit townhouses to two units in the medium‑density district. Staff and the consultant said the printed excerpt was abbreviated for convenience and that additional portions of the chapter were unchanged.
"The only change here was that we deleted that part about articles 1 and article 3," consultant Pat Tayewski told the board, confirming that the principal substantive change printed for review reduced townhouse unit allowances. Planning staff confirmed that multifamily buildings such as triplexes and fourplexes remain permitted in the medium‑density district and that other standards (for example, porch and entrance limits) apply differently between townhouses and multifamily forms.
Public commenter Colin Gold addressed the item and said he supports expanding options; he asked whether the board would consider restoring townhouse allowances up to four units in some districts. "I'm a big proponent of missing middle housing," Gold said, and asked for clarity on parking and what constitutes "informal" parking for small multifamily projects. Members and staff discussed parking graphics and CRA standards that allow garage and driveway solutions similar to single‑family homes.
Board members also noted related questions about ADU eligibility with attached townhomes and cluster‑court provisions in the CRA overlay. Staff said those are existing tools in the code (cluster courts permitted in CRA overlays) but that broader questions about ADUs with attached townhomes would warrant separate public workshops and additional public input.
The board's straw vote to advance the revised missing‑middle language was nonbinding; staff will produce updated code text and return it for formal consideration in a future meeting.
