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Speakers say stream buffers and setbacks can make small lots unbuildable
Summary
Participants warned that ecological setbacks—examples discussed as 100‑foot buffers from streams—can materially reduce buildable land on small parcels, potentially undercutting efforts to allow smaller R‑1 lots.
Staff member pointed out that ecological setbacks applied to streams and wetlands can sharply reduce usable land on a parcel, especially if a 100‑foot buffer is required. "We have to, you know, be a 100 feet from the extreme, which can be really difficult," the staff member said, using the setback to illustrate constraints on smaller lots.
The committee member gave a farm example to show how fence lines and buffers cut into usable acreage: "if you fence off 50 feet on each side, there's no field left," the committee member said. Participants concluded that any change to lot-size minimums must be evaluated against local environmental constraints; the transcript includes no engineering or legal analysis in this meeting.
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