Cottonwood Heights considers zoning tweaks to ease townhouse development

Cottonwood Heights council members discussed proposed changes to the city’s multifamily zoning rules meant to clarify how townhouse-style (single‑family attached) development is treated in the RM (multifamily) zone. The amendments — outlined by Community and Economic Development Director Jim Spung — would allow 0‑foot side setbacks where dwellings are attached and require a 10‑foot minimum between adjacent buildings and a 10‑foot external setback for end units.

The proposal grew out of a rezone application near the old bank site last year, Spung said, when applicants asked for flexibility in setbacks to provide buffering to neighboring properties. “This is really clarifying current practice and removing some barriers that we found with townhouse‑type development,” Spung said, adding the changes also ensure compliance with fire code and allow space for a trash cart, landscaping, or fencing between buildings.

Council members used the conversation to press staff on broader design concerns. One member urged the city to advance walkability by locating front doors and windows on streets and placing parking at the rear, with alleys for trash access. Another cautioned that alley systems can raise safety concerns — citing past studies — and urged staff to consider crime impacts when planning new alleys. Spung said those “missing‑middle” and walkable‑urban ideas are on staff’s radar and would be addressed in a future district‑level update tied to the general plan, not in this ordinance’s code fixes.

No final vote was taken in the work session; the item remains before the council for additional review and possible formal action at a business meeting.