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Council weighs state mandate to allow duplexes amid parking trade-offs
Summary
Staff said state law requires cities to permit duplexes in single-family zones while allowing cities to keep dimensional standards; the state also limits required parking for duplexes to one space per unit, a change commissioners said could intensify on-street parking issues in older neighborhoods.
Consultants told the joint session that, under state requirements, Warrenton must allow duplexes in zones where single-family detached houses are permitted, but duplexes are held to the same dimensional standards as single-family homes.
Scott Ferganesi and Heather Austin explained the practical effect: "Duplexes have to be permitted on every lot where a single-family detached dwelling is permitted," and the draft reduces parking requirements for duplexes to one space per unit to align with state standards. Commissioners pressed staff about height calculations in flood zones (height is measured from finished floor elevation above base flood) and discussed ways to maintain neighborhood compatibility, such as design standards, driveway-depth requirements and allowing only certain duplex configurations where appropriate.
Staff noted that while the city cannot refuse to permit duplexes on single-family lots, it can apply the same setbacks, heights and design requirements used for single-family houses so a duplex fits within existing neighborhood dimensional rules.
