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Council moves to update multifamily zoning to meet housing‑element goals and set minimum densities
Summary
Council introduced ZOA26‑03, a zoning update to set minimum densities, reduce minimum lot sizes and remove barriers to small multifamily housing as part of the city's six‑cycle housing element; staff said the changes are needed to maintain HCD certification and access state funding.
The Placerville City Council on June 23 introduced a zoning amendment (ZOA26‑03) to modify multifamily residential regulations and conditional use rules to align local code with the city's certified six‑cycle housing element.
Planner Carol Kendrick told the council the ordinance establishes minimum densities (R2: four units/acre; R3: eight units/acre; R4: 12 units/acre), reduces minimum lot sizes in some zones (for example to 5,000 sq ft in R3 and 4,500 sq ft in R4) and removes a conditional‑use permit pathway that had allowed single‑family dwellings in multifamily zones. The changes are intended to enable duplexes, triplexes and small apartment buildings on standard urban lots without discretionary review and to meet Program A5 in the housing element.
Kendrick said the Planning Commission reviewed the changes (PC‑2026‑07) and unanimously recommended approval. The staff report described state HCD letters in December 2025 prompting updates that were due earlier, noting the city must complete reforms to remain in compliance and to preserve eligibility for state housing funds.
Public commenters generally supported more workforce housing while asking staff to clarify technical points such as allowance for parking in coverage calculations, whether a 40‑foot height limit would permit three stories by right, and how slopes and parcel coverage interact with the proposed standards. Ruth Michaelelsson urged urgency given high housing costs and local workforce shortages.
Council members voted unanimously to introduce the ordinance and set the second reading for the first meeting in August. Staff indicated it will verify technical lot‑size language before second reading.
Next steps: staff will return with the corrected ordinance language for a second reading and final adoption; the amendments will be ministerial in many cases and are intended to reduce regulatory barriers to small multifamily development.
