Planning Commission also to tackle setbacks for historic structures
Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel
Planning Commissioners are set to take up tonight a series of zoning amendments which might help relieve the demand for affordable housing in Eureka.
The city’s newly seated Community Development Director, Robert Wall, is recommending the elimination of the requirement that new secondary dwelling units be owner-occupied. This would allow ‘mother-in-law’ sorts of units to be constructed and rented out by local homeowners with a simple over-the-counter permit through City Hall, instead of going through a discretionary review process at the Planning Commission.
The secondary dwelling units would still be limited to 640 square feet of interior space, and would also be subject to architectural review by the Design Review Committee. They would also be allowed, however, in a wider swath of the city, including hospital medical, office residential and commercial zones.
Another set of amendments would modify the non-conforming structures section of the Eureka Municipal Code to allow more alterations and additions to historic structures.
The Planning Commission will meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the Council Chambers of Eureka City Hall.
