(3/1) The Thurmont Planning & Zoning Commission continued at their February 27 meeting to review proposed cottage-style housing development regulations, moving the rules to the final draft stage for further consideration at a forthcoming meeting.

A cottage-style housing complex, as being considered, would be individually owned, and would be managed overall by an association created for that purpose, as per other types of condominiums.

Staff that reviewed and edited the proposed cottage housing development ordinance amendment in-cluded Kelly Duty, zoning and utilities inspector, Jim Humerick, CAO, and Chris Jakubiak, town planner

Duty also stated, "We felt that R-1 and R-2 were our larger residential zoning districts, and that may not be applicable to cottage-style housing. We felt that R-3, R-4, and R-5, as well as the general business district, would be more suitable for this," further noting, "All of these cottage housing developments would have to go through the category-one site plan planning process."

Regarding tract size, she said, "We felt that 20,000 square feet was a good minimum but thought maybe two-acres in size might be a better maximum, because we do allow for lots to be combined.

As far as the number of individual cottages that would be allowed, the inspector stated, "Originally 16 units on one acre (as had been previously proposed) might be pushing it a little bit... 24 might be a better number on a maximum of two acres."

She said it was also suggested taking out the affordability requirements that were previously recommended "because cottage housing in-and-of itself is an affordable option. That's what it's intended to be."

"We upped the open space a little bit to comply with what we currently require for our townhouse communities," Duty told the board. "Also, we changed what could be in the open space... changed 'shall' to ‘may’ so that there may be some amenities in the common open space such as seeding, landscaping, trails, gazebos, barbecue..."

"We reduced the square footage for the private lawn area to 300 square feet, so their personal space might be a little bit less but then the overall open space would be larger," and, "We took out the common open-space dwelling units abutting on at least two sides and abutting on a public street, because in certain circumstances, you may not, site design-wise, be able to meet the two sides, and in certain circumstances these sites may have private accesses," Duty said.

Town Commissioner Marty Burns, liaison to the planning board, said wording indicating that the development is to be a condominium association-type ownership arrangement should be in the final draft.

During discussions, it was determined the board would like verbiage included holding the developer to match the general neighborhood "character" and the requirement that the development be managed by a condo association.