Task force backs 12-unit pocket-neighborhood model as feasible on one acre

Task force members reviewed a concept that fits 12 small homes around a courtyard on a single acre, with two parking spaces per unit and an underground stormwater feature under the parking area.

"Within an acre of land, we could potentially build, 12 of these units within a courtyard, 800 square feet," the presenter said, noting the model could be delivered using modular, attached, or conventional construction and that parking would be provided on-site in a shared lot rather than through internal streets. Members discussed whether to reserve units for first-time homebuyers or designate them as workforce housing, and the group indicated most favored limiting the workforce price restriction to the first five years in the working model presented.

Discussion focused on practical questions—whether owners could later add on to homes, how HOA covenants would be structured, and the difficulties of contractor access and long-term maintenance in tightly arranged courtyards. Examples of HOA dues and insurance costs were cited from other small developments to illustrate how ongoing fees and liability premiums could affect affordability.

The task force agreed to refine the design parameters, clarify HOA and insurance assumptions, and collect cost estimates that include stormwater and parking infrastructure before presenting a refined proposal to the council.