CHENEY — Planning Commission members unanimously approved a motion on June 15 to amend R-3/multifamily zoning to allow an additional 3rd unit on 5,000-square-foot lots, only if the developer builds all three units in one bed/one bath configuration.
Initially introduced in April, Cheney senior planner Brett Lucas told the commission that “the studio apartments and one bedroom are going to be less of a party house because there’s less space. That’s kind of the concept or the intent.”
An accompanying benefit of the adjustment, he added, are a decreased parking demands and fewer police services.
If additional units are going to be added to existing 5,000-square-foot lots, standing structures would have to be gutted to meet the new requirements. Lucas clarified his point by reiterating that single-dwelling units, regardless of how many people live within, are still single-dwelling units because they house one living area. Multi-dwelling units refer to structures such as apartments or condominiums.
Geographically, there are primarily only seven or eight spaces directly being affected, of which two are open lots located and 4th and 5th streets.
“Most of these would be doing their parking off the alley,” Lucas said, responding to one of the commission’s concerns about the changes.
In addition to the zoning issue, commissioners discussed questions regarding aquifer levels with the approach of summer. “Water levels are doing good,” said Public Works Director Todd Ableman. “We have not kicked on all wells at this time, but it is very, very dry. It’s been a warm spring; there’s a lot of usage going on, but right now we’re doing good.”
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