Planning Commission, council approve residential zoning changes to add RS4–RS6, revise RM1 rules

The Planning Commission and City Council moved forward May 19 with staff‑proposed residential zoning updates intended to give builders more small‑lot options and enable more starter homes.

Planning Director Aaron Vannoy told the Planning Commission the changes respond to the ResIntel housing study and include four additions to the code: RS4, RS5, RS6 and a revised RM1 (with legacy RM1L for existing properties). The revisions reduce minimum lot widths in targeted districts (RS4/R5/R6), remove the city’s floor‑area‑ratio requirement and align structure types with the correct district to reduce ambiguity for developers.

Staff said the updates are optional rezoning tools property owners may use; they will not be mandatory rezones. Vannoy described RS4 as allowing 35‑ft lot widths with minimum lot sizes as small as 3,000 square feet in some infill areas; RS5 is targeted to HUD‑designated infill areas; RS6 allows triplexes/quadruplexes on regulated parcels with density caps. The recommended changes also included a tweak to parking (one space minimum in some small‑lot districts) and clarified the treatment of short‑term rentals (STRs) in legacy RM1 areas.

Rocky Templin and other public commenters urged detailed platting and easement protections for patio/zero‑lot‑line lots. Planning Commission approved the recommendation (5–0) and City Council advanced the item on the first reading, 6–0.

Next steps: staff will prepare replatting checklists and user guides for applicants and return the ordinance for final adoption in a follow‑up meeting.