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Board debate highlights tension between affordable townhomes and neighborhood character
Summary
Members split over whether to allow townhomes: supporters said townhomes priced about $240,000 expand affordable ownership, while opponents cited water‑runoff problems and incompatibility with existing acre‑plus lots.
Board discussion split along familiar lines: some members framed RS‑3 (which allows townhomes) as a tool for affordability, while others rejected higher densities because of long‑standing water and neighborhood‑character concerns.
One member argued allowing townhomes would help affordability: "There's townhomes right now on the market for $240,000," the member said, calling townhomes "the most affordable brand new home" for young couples. Opponents countered that the site sits in a low end of a bowl with persistent water problems and that adding townhomes or higher‑density development could worsen runoff and parking issues. "There's no way I'm voting for RS‑3," one member said, citing affected parties and the neighborhood context.
The exchange helped shape the board’s subsequent votes on future land‑use and zoning: the board ultimately recommended LDR for the comprehensive plan item and adopted RS‑2 for zoning, a compromise that preserves single‑family character while allowing limited conditional townhome development under additional review.
