Kevin Glasheen
Council Member
I started with the idea that we needed to move quickly and take on residential code issues one by one. I’ve changed my thinking somewhat.
I do think we need to close the loophole on setbacks and on building height. 35’ is a good height but our current ordinance increasing it up to 45’ on a slope is excessive - We have all seen some houses that are simply too tall for the neighbors. The idea that you could overhang a roof to the property line under current code is absurd.
We need to put a bandaid on those two issues.
I think we could address impervious cover and strengthen the tree ordinance and maybe look at other solutions such as building to lot ratios in a residential code task force. I think that if we could address these issues over the next 6 months with more community input that would be acceptable. If the height or setback bandaids need to be revisited in that process they could be.
If any of y’all are willing to serve on such a task force please let me know - or call me.
The only reason we would need a moratorium in my opinion is if we were unable to address the height and setback issues promptly.
I asked our legal counsel a question at the last meeting- “since P&Z needs to make a report one way or the other on these issues before council can take action, what do we do if P&Z refuses to act?” Counsel answered that we could replace the members of P&Z. Thats not something I have any interest in doing. I appreciate the work of our neighbors on P&Z and the idea of dismissing them seems dictatorial.
If we can bandaid the setback and height loopholes then I don’t think we need a moratorium on new permit applications while we do a more comprehensive residential zoning review. However - if P&Z does not send those issues back to council for action then we may need to consider a moratorium.
I do think we need to close the loophole on setbacks and on building height. 35’ is a good height but our current ordinance increasing it up to 45’ on a slope is excessive - We have all seen some houses that are simply too tall for the neighbors. The idea that you could overhang a roof to the property line under current code is absurd.
We need to put a bandaid on those two issues.
I think we could address impervious cover and strengthen the tree ordinance and maybe look at other solutions such as building to lot ratios in a residential code task force. I think that if we could address these issues over the next 6 months with more community input that would be acceptable. If the height or setback bandaids need to be revisited in that process they could be.
If any of y’all are willing to serve on such a task force please let me know - or call me.
The only reason we would need a moratorium in my opinion is if we were unable to address the height and setback issues promptly.
I asked our legal counsel a question at the last meeting- “since P&Z needs to make a report one way or the other on these issues before council can take action, what do we do if P&Z refuses to act?” Counsel answered that we could replace the members of P&Z. Thats not something I have any interest in doing. I appreciate the work of our neighbors on P&Z and the idea of dismissing them seems dictatorial.
If we can bandaid the setback and height loopholes then I don’t think we need a moratorium on new permit applications while we do a more comprehensive residential zoning review. However - if P&Z does not send those issues back to council for action then we may need to consider a moratorium.