Change could add housing

The Shelton City Council is scheduled to vote Tuesday on proposed code changes in neighborhood residential zones that could open the door to more single-family homes, triplexes and accessory dwellings.

The council gave preliminary approval to the changes at its April 19 meeting. Tuesday’s Zoom meeting begins at 6 p.m., and can be viewed on MasonWebTV.

According to a report by the city’s community development department, “The existing code does not meet, in many instances, modern needs in housing and development standards … Staff believes these changes will promote residential development while creating neighborhoods that are more livable, interesting and functional.”

Under the proposed changes, the minimum size of a single-family lot would decrease from 6,000 to 4,500 square feet. Triplexes are currently allowed on lots 6,000 square feet and larger, one per block. The proposed code change would allow triplexes on lots of 7,500 square feet and bigger and more than one per block.

The proposed code change would also remove the requirement that the property owner must occupy one unit if the lot contains an accessory dwelling.