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Commissioners consider allowing 0‑lot‑line 'patio homes' beyond cluster developments
Summary
Consultants proposed allowing 0‑lot‑line patio homes (smaller detached lots) in cluster developments to preserve natural areas and asked whether to permit them more broadly in districts such as SFMU, NFR and NMU; commissioners generally signaled support for allowing them in several residential districts.
Friess & Nichols presented 0‑lot‑line (patio) homes as a detached, smaller‑lot housing product that can increase affordability by shifting the house to one lot line and leaving a more usable side yard. The draft currently allows 0‑lot‑line houses within cluster developments to help conserve environmentally sensitive areas but asked commissioners whether to permit them more broadly.
Commissioners and staff discussed appropriate districts (SFMU, NFR, NMU were favored in the staff memo) and technical constraints: typical 10‑foot separation (5'+5') originates from building‑code opening limits and maintenance easements are commonly needed for lot‑line walls. Several commissioners cited local examples (Wells Branch) and asked staff to show prototypes and clarify minimum lot sizes where patio homes would be allowed.
The commission signaled preliminary support for allowing 0‑lot‑line homes in a range of districts (staff noted SFR could accommodate a small percentage of smaller lots, down to 4,500 sq ft, but SFS minimum lots are generally larger). Staff will refine district lists, provide sample drawings, and include maintenance‑easement language in the next draft.
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