January 14, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
With more homeowners focusing less on size and more on sustainability, it should come as no surprise that tiny houses are having a massive surge in popularity. These mini dwellings are redefining how people build and live in their homes, from the property built on to the amenities inside the houses.
Currently, the City of Smithville has no “Tiny House” regulations under the zoning ordinance in a residential zone. One tiny house has already been located on Juniper Lane in an R-1 residential district.
During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, the Smithville Planning Commission voted to send a regulation recommendation to the mayor and aldermen for adoption. Members voting in favor were Shawn Jacobs, Glen Nichols, Meshia Johnson, Hoyte Barrett, and Brandon Miller. Donnie Crook voted no.
Under the proposed zoning ordinance amendment, Tiny Houses would be permitted only in the R-2 district as a use permitted and defined as anything 727 square feet or below restricted to only one tiny house per parcel by right. More than one tiny house must be subject to mobile home park regulations and submitted with a site plan. Tiny houses would also be subject to the city’s international residential codes including existing setback requirements.
Tiny house floor plans are designed to use every square inch of space efficiently. Typically, the kitchen, dining room, and living room are essentially the same space, but with innovative design and if more living space is desired, a loft area above could be included as a sleeping area to open up the small footprint.
In other business the planning commission voted to recommend to the city council passage of a proposed zoning ordinance amendment to permit zero lot lines for multi-family residential developments as a special exception in all districts accept R-1.
“We have had a couple of folks come in and request zero lot lines,” said Tommy Lee, Director of the Upper Cumberland Development District, who serves as UCDD staff planner and advisor to the City of Smithville. “What we have been having to do so far is send them to the BZA to get variances, but we are having more of these requests. This amendment would address that,” he said.
According to the planning commission, this amendment would primarily apply to owner occupied developments.
“Typically, if they own the property, they take more pride in ownership. They would still have to adhere to setbacks for common areas. It would just be sidewalls that would be shared,” said Lee.
Meanwhile, the planning commission voted to recommend another amendment to the zoning ordinance to clear up some language by revising the multi-family residential structures standards.
Under the proposal, 20,000 square feet is required for the first four units plus an additional 2,000 square feet per unit. The change would be to require the addition of two off street parking spaces per apartment.