Staff propose zoning code rewrite; council members press for clarity on R1-9000, RA-5 and setbacks

City staff outlined a proposed rewrite of the municipal code that would consolidate zoning provisions, move engineering standards into a separate specifications manual, and simplify where residents find development rules. Planner Patrick O’Brien and staff member Cherylyn Egner described the intention as making the code easier to navigate and ensuring zoning aligns with the land‑use map.

Egner said staff reintroduced the RA‑5 zone to protect agricultural parcels and noted that removing the R1‑9000 zone would render existing homes potentially legal nonconforming. O’Brien told council members that one solution would be to rezone those lots to R1‑7,500 so they would conform to new standards, but acknowledged that rezoning carries tradeoffs for property owners.

Council Member Ryan Hunter and Mayor Pro Tem Clark Taylor urged caution and clear public communication, saying residents perceived the draft as an attempt to increase density. Hunter said he did not want to raise density beyond already‑approved levels and asked staff to produce clear maps showing exact zone boundaries. Christine Anderson, a member of the public, expressed support for providing more options to landowners, including the ability to subdivide under defined criteria.

Staff indicated they would receive public comments at the upcoming Planning Commission hearing and bring feedback back to council. Setbacks and several blanked sections of the draft code will be filled in as the rewrite is finalized.