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Committee approves permitting NR building types in UR district to reduce nonconformities

2370834 · February 21, 2025

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Summary

The committee voted to amend the zoning ordinance to allow neighborhood residential (NR) building types to be permitted within the urban residential (UR) zoning district to reduce nonconforming designations and ease minor repairs for homeowners.

The Land Use Committee voted Feb. 24 to recommend an amendment that allows the building types permitted in the Neighborhood Residential (NR) zoning district to also be permitted in the Urban Residential (UR) zoning district.

Planning Department staff said the change responds to property owners in UR‑zoned parcels whose existing residential building types became nonconforming when the city remapped areas into UR. Dan Bartman explained that the amendment will reduce the need for variances and special permits for routine repairs and modest renovations and will remove incentives for some owners to downzone their properties to regain conformity.

Councilor John Davis, who moved to approve the amendment, said the change helps homeowners keep porches and other existing features without lengthy permit processes while preserving the city’s long‑term planning goals. City staff said the amendment may make a small number of undersized UR lots newly eligible for certain NR building types, potentially allowing modest increases in housing on those lots.

The committee voted to recommend the ordinance amendment to the full council. Recorded votes showed Councilors Davis, Saeed, Wilson, Klingen and McLaughlin in favor.