TDSF Reduction Ordinance

status

On Monday, July 8, 2019, the City Council voted to remove the TDSF ordinance from the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 staff work plan, thereby halting any further work on the ordinance.

Overview

Both the City Council and Planning Commission have expressed concern about potential adverse effects from large new homes on neighborhood character. 

On February 25, 2019, the City Council directed Planning staff to: 1) prepare an ordinance to go before the Planning Commission, bypassing the City Council’s Zoning Ordinance Revisions and Code Enforcement Subcommittee (ZORACES), that alters the maximum total development square footage (TDSF) down to 8,500 square feet; and 2) develop language that would allow use of 75% of the TDSF unless the average of the neighborhood allowed use of up to, but not to more than, the new maximum TDSF allowed for the lot size.

TDSF is the term for the amount of building square footage that is allowed on a residential lot. It includes the main residence and any accessory structures, such as guest houses, garages, barns, sheds, gazebos, and cabanas.  

On July 1, 2019, staff prepared a draft ordinance for the Planning Commission’s  review and recommendation. The Commission made recommendations to the City Council (action memo). At this time, an effective date of implementation of this ordinance and the properties/projects it would apply to has not been determined. This will be determined by the City Council upon considering this matter. 

On July 8, 2019, the City Council considered a draft ordinance. After public comments and deliberations, the Council removed the TDSF draft ordinance from the Fiscal Year 2019-2020 Work Plan and directed staff to bring back at the mid-year budget review for Fiscal Year 2019-2020 an item regarding potential incentives for safer, smaller, lower impact homes and other desirable building practices.  

Neighborhood Character Background

Meeting materials from public meetings can be located in OnBase. To view meeting videos, visit the video archive webpage.

  • Planning Commission - July 1, 2019 Item 5B
  • City Council - July 8, 2019 - Staff Report Item 6B
  • City Council - February 25, 2019 - Staff Reports Item 5A
  • Planning Commission - October 16, 2017 - Staff Report Item 7A
  • City Council - August 28, 2017 - Staff Report Item 6A
  • Joint City Council / Planning Commission  - November 13, 2017 - Staff Report