At its Nov. 18 meeting, the Planning Commission heard a request for a density variance to allow a duplex on a small lot at 127 13th Street, but staff said the matter should be transferred to the city council and the commission postponed action to Dec. 16.

Planning Commissioner Sean Courtney, representing the applicant, said the lot is just under half an acre and the applicant proposes a duplex. Courtney said driveway access should not be an issue because the applicant owns the adjacent parcel on the right side. The proposed development would require a density variance because the lot is small for two dwelling units under current rules.

Scott, a city planning staff member, reported that the property is approximately 0.462 acre and the requested variance would change the density from 3 units per acre to about 4.33 units per acre to allow the duplex at 127 13th Street. Scott said draft conditions were submitted on Nov. 14 and remain under staff review. Given the nature and citywide ramifications of the request, Scott said he was invoking his authority under the zoning ordinance to transfer the decision on the request from the planning commission to the city council.

The commission voted to postpone consideration of the variance until its Dec. 16 meeting. No substantive decision on the variance was made by the commission at the Nov. 18 meeting.