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Councilors and residents raise parking, emergency‑access concerns as duplexes and 'middle housing' expand
Summary
Councilors and residents pressed staff on how state‑mandated middle‑housing (duplexes and other small multiunit types) will affect on‑street parking, emergency access and lot‑size rules; staff agreed to explore options and return with draft standards.
Councilor (S7) framed the policy choice as whether to "lean towards increasing number of units as much as possible" under state law or to preserve current livability limits; he said the council has heard consistent community concerns about not increasing units without increasing curb or off‑street parking.
Several residents described narrow neighborhood streets and a recent fire response that struggled to access cul‑de‑sac homes. One resident said their household can have "3 to 4 vehicles" and asked how that would be accommodated if lots are split into duplexes. Councilors asked staff whether local off‑street parking minimums could be increased; staff replied that some parking standards remain local but that recent state statutes will limit how much a city may require for certain housing applications.
