The City's current Land Development Code allows for detached single-family dwelling units, accessory buildings and urban agriculture as permitted uses in R-3 Residential Zoning districts.  The Code also provides a special exception use for places of worship and bed and breakfast operations.  Staff determined that there is a need to expand the type of residential uses to include attached single-family townhomes as a special exception within the R-3 Residential Zoning District that are also designated with a Downtown or Downtown Core future land use designation. 

The proposed amendment will add the following:

c. Attached single-family townhomes with the following development standards:

i.     For purposes of the special exception, an attached single-family townhome is defined as a group of two or more attached single-family dwelling units constructed with property lines separating each unit, where each unit extends from foundation to roof, with a yard or public way on at least two sides;

ii.   The property shall be located in the Downtown or Downtown Core future land use classification on the City’s adopted Comprehensive Plan future land use map;

iii. The residential density shall not exceed the maximum densities within the Downtown or Downtown Core future land use classification, as applicable;

iv. A minimum property size of at least 5,000 square feet shall be required for each project, and each individual single-family townhome shall be located on an area of at least 2,500 square feet;

v.   The underlying parcel of each individual single-family townhome shall be consistent with the parcel of record as recorded in the public records of Pasco County, Florida; and

vi. Site development standards shall be established by the City Council through the special exception approval process.

The Land Development Review Board reviewed the proposed amendment at its meeting on October 15, 2020 and recommended approval.