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Commission debates relaxing unit‑count caps in MR‑15 and MR‑30; asks staff for map and return
Summary
Plan Commission discussed a proposal to move some multifamily building types from conditional use to by‑right in MR‑15 and MR‑30 (reducing review time), but commissioners requested a map, impact analysis and suggested caps (4 in MR‑15, 8 in MR‑30) and took no action tonight.
The Plan Commission discussed a zoning text amendment that would allow more multifamily building types to be permitted by right rather than as conditional uses in MR‑15 and MR‑30, but did not reach agreement on final text and asked staff to return with more information.
Staff explained the change would move many building types currently requiring conditional‑use review to a by‑right site‑plan process; that change aims to reduce time and uncertainty for developers and improve financing prospects. "So the proposal is to put those uses into, out of conditional use and into by right," Shannon said.
Several commissioners expressed concerns that eliminating conditional‑use review removes the public‑hearing safeguard and that caps by district may be appropriate. One commissioner suggested keeping a cap of 4 units in MR‑15 and 8 units in MR‑30; another asked for a map showing where MR‑15 and MR‑30 actually apply so the commission could assess the local impacts. Staff indicated the MR‑30 district is more intensive and that the commission could choose to preserve some conditional‑use reviews for larger projects.
The commission settled on a direction to ask staff to return with a map, square‑footage/lot‑size analysis and proposed caps tied to district context. No ordinance language was adopted; the item will return for further consideration.
