Part 16 — FLEXIBLE DENSITY UNIT HOUSING

The purpose of these regulations is to provide additional options for housing by producing incentives for the development of reduced size dwelling units, defined as flexible density units (FDU). This unit type encourages developers to create a community where a variety of income levels and household sizes interact. (Ord. 2022-02 § 7, 2022; Ord. 2006-18 § 1 (part), 2006).

“Flexible density unit” or “FDU” is a dwelling unit ranging from two hundred twenty to six hundred fifty square feet that is exempt from General Plan and zoning ordinance density standards. Developments including this unit type may consist solely of FDUs or include other residential units.

(Ord. 2022-02 § 7, 2022; Ord. 2006-18 § 1 (part), 2006).

1. Density. FDU units shall comply with the underlying development standards of the zoning district in which they are located, except that requirements for minimum lot area per dwelling unit shall not apply to FDU units.

2. Unit Size. The floor area of FDU units may range from a minimum of two hundred twenty square feet to a maximum of six hundred fifty square feet.

3. Minimum Dwelling Units Requirement. Residential or mixed-use projects shall contain at least three dwelling units to qualify for use of the FDU unit type. FDU units can count towards this requirement.

4. Open Space. FDU units shall comply with the underlying development standards of

24-176.26b

(Supp. No. xx – 6/9/2024)

24.12.1600

the zoning district in which they are located, except that requirements for minimum open space per dwelling unit shall not apply to FDU units. In lieu of the district regulations for open space, minimum usable open space per dwelling unit for FDU units shall be defined by Section 24.12.1530.

5. Storage Facilities. All FDU units shall have access to private usable storage space containing a minimum of two hundred cubic feet. The required storage space may be incorporated into private garages or carports; provided, that the garage or carport has adequate space for a vehicle, as required by Part 3 of this chapter.

6. Bicycle Parking. One Class 1 bicycle storage facility shall be provided for each FDU unit. The required private usable storage space provided for each FDU unit may be utilized to meet this requirement.

7. Covered Parking. Covered parking is not required.

8. Zoning. In addition to the permitted land use districts in Chapter 24.10, FDUs shall be permitted in the Central Business District (CBD) pursuant to the Development Standards and Design Guidelines section of the Downtown Plan.

9. FDUs in Density Bonus Projects. When FDUs are proposed as part of a density bonus application, subsections (9)(a) and (b) shall be used to calculate the allowable residential density, or conforming base project, upon which the density bonus application is based. Both of the following conditions shall apply to the units in the density bonus application:

a. The average unit size for the base project must be equal to or greater than the average unit size for the density bonus application.

b. The percentage of units in the base project that are FDUs must be equal to or less than the percentage of units in the density bonus project that are FDUs.

(Ord. 2023-14 § 1, 2023; Ord. 2023-06 § 7, 2023; Ord. 2022-02 § 7, 2022; Ord. 2007-21 § 1, 2007: Ord. 2006-18 § 1 (part), 2006).

1. Residential or mixed-use projects containing FDUs shall contain at least one hundred fifty square feet of usable open space per FDU unit. This requirement may be met by any combination of private space, outdoor open space, or indoor common space.

2. Residential or mixed-use projects containing FDUs shall require a minimum of two hundred square feet of outdoor open space and two hundred square feet of indoor common space. Maintenance areas, laundry facilities, storage (including bicycle storage), and common hallways shall not be included as usable indoor common space. Landscape areas that are less than ten feet wide shall not be included as outdoor open space.

3. Outdoor open spaces and indoor common spaces shall be designed to accommodate appropriate furnishings and shall be furnished for use by residents. Appropriate furnishings for indoor common space may include such items as lounge chairs and/or couches, tables with chairs, writing desks, and televisions. Appropriate furnishings for outdoor open spaces may include such items as outdoor benches, tables with chairs, barbecues, and shade umbrellas.

4. In any residential or mixed-use development containing FDUs, common laundry facilities shall be provided on site at the rate of one washer and one dryer per ten residential units that do not contain both a washer and a dryer. Fractional ratios shall be rounded up to the next whole number.

5. Laundry facilities that have a minimum of two washers and two dryers must be provided in a separate room.

(Ord. 2022-02 § 7, 2022; Ord. 2008-14 § 4, 2008: Ord. 2006-18 § 1 (part), 2006).