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Commission debates allowing street‑level residential in downtown code changes
Summary
Staff proposed allowing limited street‑level residential in the CBD with a commercial-component requirement; several commissioners warned it could set a precedent that weakens downtown commercial character and urged further stakeholder outreach.
City planning staff proposed changes to the Unified Land Development Ordinance to clarify downtown (CBD) residential rules and allow additional pathways for street‑level residential units when a commercial component remains. "If you only have one level to your building, we will allow you to put residential units in it so long as there is a commercial component to it," Melissa Durbia O'Hara, city planner, told the commission.
Several commissioners pushed back. One commissioner said, "I think this sets a terrible precedent. It's putting residents on the street level in the downtown that we're trying to revive," arguing that permitting street‑level housing could erode the storefront continuity that supports businesses. Commissioners discussed Board of Adjustment review as a stopgap and asked staff to seek stakeholder input, including the Downtown Improvement Board, before changing the standard.
Commissioners did not adopt the code text at this meeting. Instead, they asked staff to do further outreach and suggested the commission-created ad hoc committee review both downtown and short‑term rental language before forwarding recommendations to the City Council.
