Board debates lot width, lot coverage and stormwater limits for proposed AG5 district

Tim Hancock described specific development standards for the AG5 proposal: a 150-foot minimum lot width (measured at the building setback line), a 15% lot-coverage maximum (counting patios and pools), 15-foot minimum spacing between structures, and accessory structures with the same setbacks as principal buildings. Hancock said the 15% lot-coverage choice aims to keep the typical building disturbance under one acre on a 5-acre lot so state stormwater triggers (1-acre disturbance) are not automatically reached. "At 15% on a 5 acre lot, you're looking at about 32,000 square feet of disturbance," Hancock said.

Commissioners questioned whether 150 feet is measured at the road or the building line; staff confirmed minimum width is measured at the building setback line. Some commissioners advocated a tighter starting standard (200 feet) to avoid narrow, elongated 'piano-key' lots, while others noted topography means some flexibility will be required. Hancock said staff can add a disturbed-area limit (board discussion referenced 25%) to the draft language to help with stormwater compliance and return a revised working draft. No final numeric standard was adopted at the work session.