PIMA — The Pima Town Council wants more time before deciding how to handle development of new multi-family housing units.
But in the meantime, town staff has suggested a new housing idea for the council to consider — tiny houses.
Planning and Zoning Administrator Jimmy Lofgreen explained that tiny houses generally are no bigger than 500 square feet and usually offer nothing more than a bedroom/living room and a restroom; similar to a studio apartment but in a free-standing structure. Maximum capacity is no more than two persons per home, but tiny houses are typically occupied by just one person.
Town Manager Vernon Batty said the idea came to staff when existing property owners were told they could not build a second dwelling on their property for their single daughter. So they asked if they could split off a small parcel of the land for development of a tiny house.
The council delayed action on the proposal, after Councilman Lucas Hoopes expressed reservation.
“I just see an idea of people running wild with it, right? Buying up all these tiny parcels and making rentals out of them; that’s what I see something like this turning into,” Hoopes said.
One the issue of multi-family development, staff recommended changing town code to require larger lot sizes, which would limit when multi-family units could be developed.
However, the council suggested an update to the town’s zoning, designating specific areas for different types of development, rather than just the lot size requirement change.
Batty explained that the last time the town was rezoned, the process took more than a year.
The council opted to table further action on multi-family development requirements until after a meeting with the town’s Planning and Zoning Commission can be scheduled.
