Missing Middle 2.0 (TC-20-21)
Missing Middle 2.0 (TC-20-21)
Missing Middle 2.0 (TC-20-21): This text change proposes amending the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) that would streamline the UDO’s regulatory framework for missing middle housing and further incentivize contextually scaled development, especially when proximate to planned high-frequency transit. Read the full draft ordinance online and visit our webpage for more information.
Background information:
On June 1, 2021, the City Council requested that staff review flag lots and other missing middle-enabling subdivision and development standards. On July 6, 2021, the City Council adopted TC-5-20 (Missing Middle Housing), which revised residential district standards to facilitate the construction of duplexes and townhomes in the R-2, R-4, R-6, and R-10 districts, and small apartment buildings on smaller lots in the R-10 and mixed-use districts. This proposed text change implements modifications to the Unified Development Ordinance to further facilitate missing middle and alternative housing types beyond those initial measures.
Current Rules:
Current regulations restrict tiny houses to single-unit living with a maximum building size of 600 square feet and requires a 4,500-square-foot lot in R-6 and a 3,000 square foot lot in R-10. Also, flag lots are not permitted in Residential zoning districts for any building type. The R-4 zoning district does not allow for 3+ unit townhome developments or apartments as a limited-use development option nor does the R-6 zoning district permit apartments as a limited-use development option. The UDO also restricts Accessory Dwelling units to only one per lot and currently does not allow them in association with the townhouse building type.
Proposed Text Change:
The proposed text change would:
- Reduce the lot size requirements and increase the allowed building size for the Tiny House building type. Under the proposed text change, a Tiny House could have a maximum 800 square foot building footprint and 1,200 square foot floor area.
- Permit Tiny Houses to be used for either single-unit or two-unit living.
- Permit two-unit Townhouses in the R-4 zoning district.
- Synchronize lot dimensional standards across most residential building types.
- Reorganize the code to insert Accessory Dwelling Unit regulations and Cottage Court regulations in both the Residential chapter of the UDO as well as the Mixed-Use chapter of the UDO.
- Allow Accessory Dwelling units on townhouse lots.
- Allow denser residential development within proximity of planned high-frequency transit to encourage growth in these areas.
- Allow two Accessory Dwelling units on a lot when proximate to planned high-frequency transit.
Public Meeting Schedule:
This text change is scheduled for a Planning Commission Text Change Committee meeting in February. The Committee may act on that date or refer to their next Text Change Committee for further discussion. We will be collecting comments here through March 1. Comments after this date should be submitted directly to Eric Hodge via Eric.Hodge@raleighnc.gov.