Board reviews 35-point housing and zoning recommendations including ADU, lot-size and parking changes
March 13, 2024 | Goodland, Sherman County, Kansas
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The board received a comprehensive presentation of 35 recommendations from Community Matters aimed at updating Goodland’s land-use regulations to reduce barriers to new housing.
Staff and reviewer Zach outlined the key recommendations: amend definitions and use standards so accessory dwelling units (ADUs) can be allowed as a use by right (while addressing several contradictory code sections that currently limit kitchens or full-time occupancy); consider an owner-occupancy requirement for ADUs; revise dimensional standards including lot size (discussion referenced returning from an 8,400-square-foot baseline to a possible 7,000-square-foot minimum in some zones); simplify setbacks (replace percentage-based side-yard rules with straight-foot measurements); and harmonize rear-setback rules so garages and accessory structures have a consistent requirement.
Other recommendations included creating a new multifamily zone district and a downtown mixed-use district (starting from the existing C2 downtown business district), revising parking standards (including possible off-site in-lieu fees for downtown projects), updating design and compatibility standards for manufactured and modular housing (removing obsolete 'double-wide' dimensional references), and making the code easier to navigate by grouping related uses and adding a glossary.
Several technical clarifications were highlighted: reviewers noted utilities and drainage considerations for lot-coverage changes, the building-code derivation (plans prepared to 2021 IBC), differing accessory-structure height references (16 vs. 20 feet), and fire-code considerations for dwelling separation and ladder/aerial-truck reach (35-foot ladder reach in current apparatus; sprinklered buildings may allow different heights). Staff said many recommendations overlap and can be grouped into one or a few ordinances rather than dozens of separate measures.
On process and timing, staff said they will work with Community Matters and legal/staff reviewers to draft ordinance language, present one or two ordinances at a time to the board for recommendation to the city commission, and aim to have at least one or two ordinances ready to take to the city commission by the next April meeting. An aspirational target suggested by staff and reviewers was to complete much of the work by late summer or fall; staff emphasized timelines are tentative.
The presenter noted an overview letter from citizen Mike Davenport and reminded board members the next city commission meeting, where selected ordinance drafts will be shown, is scheduled for Monday at 5:00 p.m. (livestream available at goodlandks.gov).
Staff and reviewer Zach outlined the key recommendations: amend definitions and use standards so accessory dwelling units (ADUs) can be allowed as a use by right (while addressing several contradictory code sections that currently limit kitchens or full-time occupancy); consider an owner-occupancy requirement for ADUs; revise dimensional standards including lot size (discussion referenced returning from an 8,400-square-foot baseline to a possible 7,000-square-foot minimum in some zones); simplify setbacks (replace percentage-based side-yard rules with straight-foot measurements); and harmonize rear-setback rules so garages and accessory structures have a consistent requirement.
Other recommendations included creating a new multifamily zone district and a downtown mixed-use district (starting from the existing C2 downtown business district), revising parking standards (including possible off-site in-lieu fees for downtown projects), updating design and compatibility standards for manufactured and modular housing (removing obsolete 'double-wide' dimensional references), and making the code easier to navigate by grouping related uses and adding a glossary.
Several technical clarifications were highlighted: reviewers noted utilities and drainage considerations for lot-coverage changes, the building-code derivation (plans prepared to 2021 IBC), differing accessory-structure height references (16 vs. 20 feet), and fire-code considerations for dwelling separation and ladder/aerial-truck reach (35-foot ladder reach in current apparatus; sprinklered buildings may allow different heights). Staff said many recommendations overlap and can be grouped into one or a few ordinances rather than dozens of separate measures.
On process and timing, staff said they will work with Community Matters and legal/staff reviewers to draft ordinance language, present one or two ordinances at a time to the board for recommendation to the city commission, and aim to have at least one or two ordinances ready to take to the city commission by the next April meeting. An aspirational target suggested by staff and reviewers was to complete much of the work by late summer or fall; staff emphasized timelines are tentative.
The presenter noted an overview letter from citizen Mike Davenport and reminded board members the next city commission meeting, where selected ordinance drafts will be shown, is scheduled for Monday at 5:00 p.m. (livestream available at goodlandks.gov).
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