Regulations would be established for Tiny Homes under a zoning ordinance amendment which was adopted on first reading during Monday night’s regular monthly meeting of the Smithville Mayor and Aldermen. Second and final reading will be scheduled following a public hearing at the March 3 meeting.
Currently, the City of Smithville has no “Tiny Home” regulations in a residential zone. One tiny home has already been located on Juniper Lane in an R-1 residential district.
Last month, the Smithville Planning Commission voted to send a regulation recommendation to the mayor and aldermen for adoption. It was also suggested by the city’s building inspector.
Under the proposed zoning ordinance amendment, Tiny Homes would be permitted only in the R-2 district as a use permitted and defined as anything 727 square feet or below restricted to only one tiny home per parcel by right. More than one tiny home (per lot) must be subject to mobile home park regulations and submitted with a site plan. Tiny homes would also be subject to the city’s international residential codes including existing setback requirements.
“This was brought up to me by the building inspector,” said Mayor Josh Miller. “He said you had better take a look at this because this (tiny homes) is about to start happening and it has happened. They have probably put a 500 square foot building in an R-1 area (Juniper Lane). We’re saying now (zoning ordinance amendment) that anything under 727 square feet has to be in an R-2 district but it still has to have a footer and all the things that a house has to have. We’re just trying to protect home investments. If you buy in an R-2 district you have to know there could be town homes, duplexes, or multi-family uses in that area. This is something that was recommended by the building inspector,” said Mayor Miller.
During Monday night’s mayor and aldermen meeting, City Administrator Hunter Hendrixson read the ordinance amendment before the vote.
“Whereas the Smithville Municipal Planning Commission has forwarded its recommendation to the city council regarding the amendment to the zoning ordinance of Smithville. The zoning ordinance is hereby amended, and the following definition shall be added: A Tiny Home is defined as a single-family dwelling that consists of a structure that is less than 727 square feet. Tiny Homes shall be allowed in the R-2 district as a permitted use. If there is more than one Tiny Home on an individual lot then the mobile home park regulations established would apply with a required site plan,” said Hendrixson.
Under the same ordinance amendment, zero lot lines would be permitted upon appeal for multi-family residential dwellings in all districts except R-1 (low density residential).
Also included in the ordinance amendment is a provision that requires two off street parking spaces per apartment unit paved with hard surfacing for any future apartment building.
Alderman Jessica Higgins asked Mayor Miller to explain Lot Lines.
“You still must have setbacks off the property lines. That is not what this (ordinance amendment concerning lot lines) is talking about. In the R-2 district the setbacks are still 10 feet off the side, 20 feet off the rear, and 30 feet in the front. That is not changing. But they are able to build apartments closer together like the town homes that were built where the old Knowles hospital was torn down. You still cannot encroach on your neighbor on the setback lines. You can’t do that and I would never be for that,” said Mayor Miller.