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Committee weighs modular cottages, manufactured housing and zoning fixes to close the gap
Summary
Jacob and committee members discussed modular 'compact cottages,' manufactured homes and zoning/code barriers for 'missing-middle' housing, highlighting permitting and fire-code thresholds that make triplexes and quadplexes costly to build.
Jacob described alternatives to large developments, including modular or compact-cottage models and manufactured housing, and cited a company in Fletcher producing compact cottages as an example. He said these building types can be permitted faster than conventional construction and may help add lower-cost units quickly if local permitting accommodates them.
Committee members and Jacob also discussed regulatory barriers to 'missing-middle' housing: once a project reaches three or four units local building-code thresholds often trigger commercial standards (firewalls, sprinkler requirements) that raise costs and discourage small multiunit development. Jacob and members pointed to code reforms (reduced setbacks, lower parking minimums and relaxed unit thresholds) used in peer municipalities as practical levers to enable more duplexes, triplexes and small multifamily projects.
The committee did not adopt any specific code changes at this meeting; members asked staff and regional partners to continue exploring local zoning adjustments and permitting streamlining as part of broader housing strategies.
