Subject
A series of text amendments to the zoning ordinance to accommodate senior housing is proposed.
Summary and Background
The City has offered city-owned property on NW 11th Street near the recycled water plant (known as the Green property) for potential senior housing development. The city council declared the property surplus and prepared a request for proposals for potential development on the property. All of the proposals submitted included potential duplex housing units and assisted living components. The Green property is within the city's R-1 zone which is intended as a low-density single-family zone and the proposals are not explicitly within the R-1 permitted uses.
The potential development of the Green property offers the city an opportunity to update the development code with some timely housekeeping amendments and make the multi-density housing which is typical of contemporary senior housing a conditional use in all zones.
The recommended amendments include five new definitions to be added to the zoning code's definition section in 157.002. Four of the new definitions help define uses typically seen with senior housing. These four definitions are:
- Assisted Living
- Independent Living
- Memory Care
- Senior
These four new definitions are then combined into a new proposed use, the Senior Housing Cluster. The underlying concept of cluster housing is the ability to combine several thematically similar uses on one lot. In the case of a Senior Housing Cluster, developers have the ability to combine assisted living, memory care, and detached housing units on one lot. The City has received several requests for this type of housing over the years from developers, but has not had an adequate code mechanism to permit it until now. Under the current zoning rules, assisted living and nursing homes are permitted conditionally in the R-1 zone. The proposed amendment will expand that conditional use permission to include the ability to include detached single-family, two-family, and larger units to the existing permissions.
Under the provisions of the development code in 157.226, a text amendment may be initiated by the city council, planning commission, or application of a property owner. In the case of the proposed amendments, staff is recommending that the city council initiate the amendment process.
Tie-In to Council Goals:
Expansion of housing opportunities for seniors is a council goal for 2021.
Fiscal Information
The text amendment requires the expenditure of between $500 and $1000 for public noticing. The city is also advised by land use counsel in this matter.
Alternatives and Recommendation
Alternatives
The city council may choose to:
- Initiate the proposed amendments to Chapter 157
- Reject initiation of the proposed amendments to Chapter 157
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the council initiate the proposed amendments. In the event that no development occurs on the Green property, the proposed amendments still represent an excellent opportunity for the city to accommodate changing demands in the senior housing market.
Requested Action/Motion
Motion to initiate the text amendments and direct staff to prepare the required notices and schedule public hearings before the planning commission and city council.
Submitted By: Clinton Spencer