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Committee approves ZTA 2602 to lift household‑living cap in regional shopping centers, adopts technical fixes
Summary
The committee approved Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 2602 to remove the 30% cap on household living uses in RSC overlay zones (regional shopping centers) with an amendment to expand eligible household types and a technical fix changing gross floor area to gross leasable area; Planning Board recommended approval 5‑0 and the committee vote was 3‑0.
Ms. McCartney Green presented ZTA 2602 to the Planning, Housing and Parks Committee on March 9. The amendment removes the 30% cap on household living uses in regional shopping center overlay zones, provided that a minimum amount of retail leasable area is retained. The Planning Board recommended approval (5‑0) and proposed expanding household living to include single‑family, multi‑unit, and townhome types.
Ms. McCartney Green also flagged a technical correction proposed by the Department of Permitting Services: when the code refers to a minimum area for the center, the measure should reference gross leasable floor area rather than gross floor area to avoid unintended inclusion of mechanical or non‑retail square footage. The committee accepted the amendments and approved the ZTA as amended. Chair Friesen noted the intent is to preserve commercial retail while allowing housing that can repurpose parking lots and underused mall space.
Vote: The committee recorded the approval as 3‑0. The Planning Board’s 5‑0 recommendation and the technical amendment from permitting staff were part of the packet. The ZTA moves forward as amended for subsequent council consideration.
