City of Columbia, Missouri

Meeting Minutes

Planning and Zoning Commission

Conference Rooms

1A/B

Thursday, February 9, 2023

5:30 PM

Work Session

Columbia City Hall

701 E. Broadway

I. CALL TO ORDER

9 -

Present:

Tootie Burns, Sara Loe, Anthony Stanton, Michael MacMann, Valerie Carroll,

Sharon Geuea Jones, Robbin Kimbell, Peggy Placier and Shannon Wilson

II. INTRODUCTIONS

III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Meeting agenda adopted unanimously

Adopt as presented

IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

January 19, 2023 Work Session

January 19, 2023 work session minutes adopted as presented.

Adopt as presented

V. NEW BUSINESS

A. Potential UDC Amendment (i.e. small lots) - Discussion

Staff and the Commission discussed appropriateness of this amendment and

permission from Council to pursue an amendment. Staff stated that a zoning Study

RFP was out for bid and that this amendment was generally related. Staff clarified

that the purpose of this agenda item is to discuss Commissioner Loe’s research into

the UDC’s provisions for small lots and its outcomes. Her research included several

graphics relating to the UDC’s current lot coverages for several zoning districts and

the “cottage-style” dimensional standards.

UDC standards were compared to two recent cases, Midland and Northridge

Cottages subdivisions. Commissioner Loe aggregated subdivision regulations for

similarly zoned cities and compared the setbacks and additional regulations for

each zoning district. She highlighted the metric for maximum lot coverage. Mr.

Zenner commented that we have a maximum lot area coverage in the UDC given

minimum open space requirements.

Commissioners asked why there is a 60’ minimum building width for legal lots?

Staff responded that utilities, driveways, other features of site development

generally require a minimum width to accommodate these features.

Commissioners asked why old lots were narrower and thus deemed sub-standard.

Staff responded that development is different today than it was 100+ years ago. It

was noted that many of these lots were platted and developed prior to the concept

that everyone would own a car and its associated garages and driveways.

Commissioner Stanton commented that urban renewal started a lot of these

problems. He recommended to peel back the layers of regulations to see how

development has changed and why those requirements were put in place.

Commissioners commented about their own neighborhoods and the neighborhood

around Hubble Drive was discussed as an example of a neighborhood block

downtown that has narrow streets and minimal setbacks. The lots on the western

part of this street are served by an alley which staff and the commission support

but rarely see utilized in contemporary subdivision design. Commissioner

MacMann stated that the neighborhood dynamic is such that there is a high degree

of neighborliness and friendly interaction happening on these porches.

B. UDC Text Change (cottage-style development) - Discussion

The Commission discussed creating an R-C cottage zoning district. Commissioner

Loe identified a potential issue with the 2,500 sq.ft. minimum lot area for R-MF

zoning in that it may be preventing missing middle housing from being developed.

Staff indicated that form-based code features and architectural characteristics could

be incorporated into this zoning district or use-specific standards. All

commissioners were in favor of a straight zoning district for cottage development.

VI. NEXT MEETING DATE - February 23, 2023 @ 5:30 pm (tentative)

VII. ADJOURNMENT

Meeting adjourned at approximately 6:57 pm

Move to adjourn