This article implements the provisions of the General Plan Housing Element that encourage new types of housing that meet a wide variety of needs and encourage infill projects on underutilized urban land. As defined, "dwelling groups" is a group of three (3) or more single-family residences or two (2) or more detached duplex buildings, apartments, condominiums, and occupying a parcel of land in the same ownership and having any yard or court in common.

Cottage dwelling groups are a type of infill development intended to provide small-scale, clustered housing units that are comparable in scale and intensity to single-family residential use, thereby minimizing the impact on adjacent low-density residential uses. (Ord. 1249, §5, adopted 2024)

This section applies to dwelling groups where allowed or permitted.

A.    Dwelling groups are considered a form of multifamily housing. Within the R2 (Medium Density Residential) and R3 (High Density Residential) zoning districts, dwelling groups are an allowed use if adhering to Chapter 2, Article 5.2 of this division (Objective Design And Development Standards For New Residential Construction).

B.    Dwelling groups must meet the development criteria of the base zone.

C.    Cottage dwelling groups are permitted in the R1 (Low Density Residential) zoning district. Cottage dwelling groups must meet the development criteria of the base zone, as well as the additional standards and exceptions outlined below.

1. Cottage dwelling groups may not be located on any parcel already containing an accessory dwelling unit, junior accessory dwelling unit, or developed with a duplex, triplex, apartment, or condominium. A parcel containing a single-family residence may be developed as a cottage dwelling group only if the single-family residence is included in the total floor area allowance below.

2. Occupancy: Dwelling groups may not be rented on a transient basis (periods less than thirty (30) days).

3. Siting Requirements:

a. Airport Compatibility: The proposed site shall not be located on any parcel that features airport compatibility Zones 1 (Runway Protection Zone), 2 (Inner Approach/Departure Zone), 3 (Inner Turning Zone) or 5 (Sideline Zone).

b. Minimum Parcel Size: The minimum parcel size shall be nine thousand (9,000) square feet.

c. Setbacks: Cottage housing developments shall meet the required front and side yard setbacks of the base zone. Rear yard setbacks shall be a minimum of ten feet (10').

d. Parking: One reserved space per unit, and one guest parking space for every three (3) units or portion thereof.

e. Accessory structures that serve on-site users and are subordinate in use and scale to the cottages (e.g., accessory storage, garages, etc.) are allowed subject to setback requirements for accessory structures.

f. Design And Development Standards: Cottage housing developments shall be subject to design review and site plan approval and meet the following additional standards and exceptions:

(1) Density: On parcels that meet the minimum parcel size, the maximum density shall be one cottage per every two thousand five hundred (2,500) square feet of lot area. When calculating the number of units allowed, fractional units shall be rounded down to the nearest whole number.

(2) Size: The total building square footage shall not exceed two thousand seven hundred (2,700) square feet, unless other sizes are allowed by approval of a use permit.

g. Site Layout:

(1) Common Open Space: Common open space shall be one or more areas that are designed and maintained for recreation, gardening, and similar activities open to all residents. Common open space shall total at least two hundred (200) square feet per unit, of which up to sixty (60) square feet may be private.

i. Cottages should generally be no more than twenty-five feet (25') from the common open area, measured from the facade of the cottage to the nearest delineation of the common open area.

ii. Orientation: Dwelling units shall be clustered around common open space that is not separated with fencing. Each unit shall have a primary entry and covered porch, generally oriented towards the common open space. Front porches are encouraged. (Ord. 1249, §5, adopted 2024)

All cottage housing developments are subject to a use permit within the R1 zoning district. A site development permit is required for any dwelling group in the R2 and R3 zoning districts that does not comply with the design and development standards as required by Chapter 2, Article 5.2 of this division. (Ord. 1249, §5, adopted 2024)