Meetings
 


City of Helena, Montana
 
December 19, 2019
To: Ana Cortez, City Manager
From:

Ellie Ray, Planner II/Grants Coordinator
Sharon Haugen, Community Development Director

 
Subject: Final passage of Ordinance No. 3278 increasing lot coverage in the R-1 (Residential) and R-2 (Residential) Zoning Districts; increasing maximum building height in the R-1 (Residential), R-2 (Residential), R-3 Residential), R-4 (Residential-Office), and B-2 (General Commercial) Zoning Districts; and eliminating minimum lot sizes for multiple dwelling units in the R-3, R-4/R-O Zoning Districts by amending Chapter 4 of Title 11 of the Helena City Code.
Present Situation:

On December 3, 2019, the City of Helena Zoning Commissioners voted unanimously (5:0) to recommend approval of an ordinance to change a range of district dimensional standards by amending Chapter 4 of Title 11 of the Helena City Code in an effort to increase housing density in the city. This was followed by a first passage hearing on the ordinance by the City Commission on December 16, 2019, wherein the City Commission voted unanimously (4:0) to approve the ordinance. No one spoke in opposition to the ordinance at either hearing. Subsequent to the public hearings, City Planning Staff sent notice of the proposed ordinance detailing the dimensional standard changes to members of the architecture community, HBIA, and realtors in an effort to solicit public comment.

 

 

The district dimensional standard changes proposed are as follows:

  1. Increase lot coverage allowance in the R-1 and R-2 (Residential) Districts from 30% with an additional 5% for a porch to 40%.
  2. Increase the maximum height allowances as follows:
    • R-1/R-2 (Residential) Districts increase from 24 feet to 30 feet
    • R-3 (Residential) District increase from 24 feet to 36 feet
    • R-4 (Residential) and R-O (Residential-Office) increase from 36 feet to 42 feet
    • B-2 (General Commercial District) increase from 42 feet to 60 feet

3. Remove lot area requirements as follows:

    • R-3 (Residential) District from 2,000 square feet per dwelling unit for multiple dwelling units to zero (0) square feet
    • R-4 (Residential)/R-O (Residential-Office) Districts from 1,200 square feet per dwelling unit for multiple dwelling units to zero (0) square feet
    Background Information: The purpose of this ordinance is to increase housing development and density within the city by removing regulatory barriers. With the recommended dimensional standard changes noted above, the City will address housing goals by increasing dwelling unit supply while also protecting the character and quality of the city’s neighborhoods. 
    Proposal/Objective: The purpose of this ordinance is to increase housing development and density within the city by removing regulatory barriers. With the recommended dimensional standard changes noted above, the City will address housing goals by increasing dwelling unit supply while also protecting the character and quality of the city’s neighborhoods. 
    Advantage: The recommended dimensional standard changes to the 5 Zoning Districts will remove regulatory barriers in three areas: Lot Coverage, Building Height and Lot Area. Such changes are expected to increase housing stock in the City. 
    Notable Energy Impact: Higher density residential development within city limits may produce lower resource(s) and infrastructural impacts.
    Disadvantage: The proposed dimensional standard changes are modest and reasoned changes to existing code standards and, therefore, are not expected to materially change the nature of the districts affected based on the Montana Zoning Criteria set forth in MCA Section 76-2-304. Other existing zoning and building codes will assure that there is not undue overcrowding of residential properties or right-of-way congestion associated with new development (e.g., parking requirements). 
    Notice of Public Hearing: N/A
    Staff Recommendation:
     
    ATTACHMENTS:
    Ordinance No. 3278