Discussion: How the City can add more residential units within the single-family residential zoning parcels.

Councilmember Odegaard provided the Future Agenda Item Request on May 21, 2019, which was supported by the required number of Councilmembers.

Community Development provided the following information to aid in the Council discussion:

Single-family residential zones in Flagstaff include the following:

• Rural Residential (RR)
• Estate Residential (ER)
• Single-family Residential (R1)
• Single-family Residential Neighborhood (R1N)
• Manufactured Housing (MH) 

Duplexes (two units on one lot) are permitted in every residential zone except Manufactured Housing (MH).
 
Multi-family (three units or more on one lot) are permitted in every residential zone except R1N or MH.
 
Single-family homes are permitted in every residential zone.
 
Accessory dwelling units are permitted in conjunction with single-family homes in all zones. 
 
Where the code could be looked at in terms of density include:

• Number of units allowed per acres
• Lot area requirements 

The only way to achieve more than 29 units per acre (max in High Density Residential) is through a mixed-use project which is permitted in commercial zones.
 
Case Studies
Minneapolis:  In December 2018, Minneapolis passed a city-wide ban on single-family zoning.  Developers can now build multi-unit housing in neighborhood reserved for single-family homes.
 
Oregon:  The State of Oregon has passed a measure that requires cities with more than 10,000 people to allow duplexes in areas zoned for single-family homes.  In the metro Portland area, cities and counties are required to allow the building of housing such as quadplexes and cottage clusters of homes around a common yard.