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Planning staff present 'Expanding Housing Options' proposal to allow small‑lot and missing‑middle housing
Summary
Planners briefed the council on a text amendment to create 'small lot dwelling' standards and allow duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes and townhomes in most low‑density residential districts. Staff said the aim is to increase attainable housing while preserving single‑family zoning and noted public open houses are scheduled.
Planning staff presented an informational package called 'Expanding Housing Options' that would add a new category for small‑lot dwellings and consolidate several residential zone standards. The proposal would permit smaller housing types — including duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes and townhomes up to four units — in R‑1, R‑2, SR‑1 and SR‑1A districts where standards are met, and would add a one‑parking‑space minimum for new small‑lot units. Staff framed the approach as limiting unit size (rather than price) to promote relative affordability and noted the project has not yet received a Planning Commission recommendation.
Council members asked about outreach, possible unintended consequences and interactions with other recent housing changes. Staff said they will hold citywide open houses and had circulated materials to the planning listserv and community councils, and described tradeoffs — for example, allowing smaller lots without rezoning but removing some procedural constraints such as flag‑lot conditional use to streamline housing creation. Several council members urged caution and more time for evaluation; others supported piloting the approach and asked staff to return with implementation metrics and clearer outreach plans.
