What: Ordinance C36941, an interim, emergency ordinance giving owners rebuilding after the fire flexibility to rebuild like for like even where code has changed, expiring in 2029, with an amendment limiting redevelopment of fire-affected lots to four units per lot.
Where it stands: Briefed September 29; the Zappone amendment number two was adopted by voice vote and the ordinance was deferred to pending on September 30 with final action a week later.
Next: Final Council action and any further amendments.
Details
Built from the Whisper speech-to-text transcript of the September 29 Agenda Review; names and numbers may be misheard.
Staff gave an example of garage placement rules that changed after the neighborhood was platted. The four-unit cap matches the City's earlier middle-housing limits and still allows accessory units, townhomes, duplexes, fourplexes and cottage homes; it would bar assembling a large parcel for 20 or 30 apartments.
Concerns raised: the undefined terms substantially destroyed, damaged or uninhabitable (staff would use the building official's process); the three-year permitting window; evacuation road capacity (no study known; fire and police input requested); parking not being required; fairness to other neighborhoods and to fire-affected owners whose lots would be limited below the six units state law allows elsewhere. One member suggested running the approach separately for other neighborhoods; supporters said certainty is needed now so rebuilding can start and broader work can continue.
Staff briefed the ordinance and the four-unit amendment; members raised definitions, evacuation capacity, parking and equity. The amendment passed and the ordinance was deferred one week.