Jan. 30: Town Hall Notes

A little over a dozen residents joined Planning Commission members and a member of the City Council in another Town Hall to listen to one another about the zoning code. New Commission member Kenny Stewart once again moderated the discussion.

The meeting began with a review of decisions made at the last Planning Commission meeting on January 23, which included:

• Agreement that the gaps and risks in the current zoning code should be addressed

• A vote to being the process to update the zoning code

• An vote to agree to use the framework (not the language) of the repealed ordinance #439

• A plan to review the content of all the articles of the repealed #429 ordinance

  • Will work through each article at Planning Commission meetings

  • The exact order and pacing is to be determined

  • Will save discussion of articles 2 and 3 (the most contentious an consequential) until last

Comments from the meeting attendees:

·       Change “demolition” I the code to “deconstruction.” Taking buildings down in a way that re-uses and recycles as much material as possible is a way to respect our environment and our history.

·       We have a housing shortage in the country. How can we help locally? Currently restricted and unable to build an ADU under the current code. More flexibility and increase in different types of housing. May help parents stay in place and stay local.

·       There was more flexibility in R1 & R2 for housing types in the repealed code.

·       It is appropriate to involve neighbors.

·       Some concern about mix-use and impacts on ADUs.

·       Wonder if one of the issues we ae having about ADUs, duplexes, triplexes is that we cannot picture what it meant. Perhaps in future meetings some examples of what these things might look like.

·       The Planning Commission needs to focus on writing a code that will serve us well into the future.

·       ADUs are good, but perhaps they are something that should not be allowed “By Right.”

·       Need to address long-term occupancy in ADUs (currently a guest would need to leave after 21 days and come back).

·       Need to address the maximum area for a structure on a lot.

·       Bigger goals of more year round residents and affordable homes. As the Master Plan says: “provide housing opportunity to the broad spectrum of persons seeking housing in the City.”

·       Take the 10,000 foot view and build the town organically. Reist the urge to have developers come in, build big developments and leave us with the problems.

·       Setbacks are subjective and perhaps are not needed.

·       No matter what rules are established the ZBA is set up to review conflicts.