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Council adopts new R‑1 single‑family zone, removes minimum lot area requirements
Summary
Council unanimously adopted ordinances 2026‑018 and 2026‑019 to add an R‑1 zone to the general plan and to amend city code to eliminate minimum lot area requirements while keeping density tied to underlying land‑use categories and other guardrails (setbacks, lot width).
City planning staff presented a two‑part proposal to create a new R‑1 single‑family zone and remove minimum lot area and minimum home floor‑area requirements from portions of the code. The change ties density to the underlying land use (low, medium or traditional downtown categories) and adds dimensional guardrails — including minimum lot widths (40–60 feet depending on land use), front and rear setbacks, and side setback allowances where needed for utility easements.
Dan, the presenting planner, told council planning commission recommended both items 6–0 and that the R‑1 approach provides flexibility for infill while keeping neighborhoods cohesive. "So there is no, the 4 would typically stand for the 4,000 square foot... lot area; we're proposing to call it just the R‑1 zone," he said. Councilmembers asked about safeguards for subdivision scale and market effects; one member said the zone could help produce more housing types while another cautioned that the market ultimately determines price. Both ordinances were adopted by unanimous roll call.
