Planning commission says prior public comment on ‘tiny homes’ is allowed under existing code, recommends cleanup

Malia Collins, chair of the Bluff Planning & Zoning Commission, told the commission on June 18 that she reviewed Stephen Reale’s public comment from June 4 about tiny-home placement and found differences between Zoning Code 6.40.10 Sections A and B. Collins said Section A references “Tiny Houses” in a manner similar to mobile homes and treats them as a use by right as a primary dwelling, while Section B appears intended to address tiny homes “on wheels” but omits the wheels qualifier.

Collins recommended the commission interpret the code to allow the use described in Reale’s comment and said the commission should prioritize text edits to remove ambiguity. "Section A indicates that Tiny Homes are allowed as a 'use by right,'" Collins said, describing that reading as the basis for the recommendation.

Commissioner Anne Brown emphasized tiny homes as a potential affordable-housing option but urged stricter permanence standards for wheeled units. Brown said she would prefer requiring a tiny home that starts on wheels to be made permanent if sited in town, to limit transient or RV-like placement and to align with neighborhood expectations.

The commissioners agreed that the Zoning Code needs cleanup to resolve the inconsistency between Sections A and B and to reflect current state law changes where applicable. Collins said the commission’s interpretation and recommended edits will be part of the commission’s upcoming work on the code.

The commission did not take a formal vote on an ordinance at the work session; Collins said any formal recommendation or language changes would be addressed in the July meeting cycle and through the code-update process the commission is launching.