City council OKs new residential zoning districts

More flexibility for developers and protection of neighbors' rights were among the goals of two residential zoning categories enacted by the city of Yuma.

The new categories, which amend the city's zoning code, were approved by the Yuma City Council during its meeting Wednesday evening.

They grew out of an issue over developers with plans for their property that didn't meet the existing criteria, said Laurie Lineberry, Community Development director. In one case that came before the council last year, the developer actually was proposing a lower density than the minimum required by zoning.

One amendment creates a low-density single-family residential district (R1-5) that allows for narrower lot sizes while keeping the integrity of single-family detached home neighborhoods.

Lineberry said the zoning requires two-car garages to provide for adequate off-street parking. It also requires such features as walls to maintain the integrity of the single-family homes.

A second amendment creates a medium-density single-family residential district (R2-5) to allow for more flexibility. This district has smaller setbacks, more lot coverage, staggered frontyard setbacks and one stormwater retention basin instead of many small basins when a larger area is being developed using this zoning category.

Another issue brought to the council's attention is auto repairs being done by homeowners that were considered disruptive by neighbors, Lineberry said.

A lot of people do their own auto repairs at their homes, she said. Problems arise, however, when friends bring their cars by to be worked on, too.

“This feels to the neighbors like repairs are going on around the clock with vehicles coming and going,” said Lineberry.

The solution is restrict repairs being done at home to vehicles owned by the occupant of the house, she said. “We trying to balance the objectives of people to do what they want when they buy a home with the needs of the neighbors.”

In other action, the council:

• Approved rescheduling its Oct. 5 worksession and Oct. 6 regular meeting to Sept. 28 and Sept. 29, respectively, because of a major meeting in Washington, D.C., that conflicted with the regular schedule.

• Scheduled 1:30 p.m. Nov. 18 for a joint major amendment meeting with the Yuma County Board of Supervisors.

• Expressed kudos to city crews for their hard work in responding to the aftermath of the Aug. 26 storm, quickly clearing streets and sidewalks of debris such as broken tree limbs.

• Heard a request by Councilman Cody Beeson to reconsider the issue of controlling feral cats. He proposed a voluntary additional payment by city residents on their water bills to provide vouchers for people who are willing to trap feral cats and take them to the Humane Society.

In addition, former Mayor Larry Nelson and current Councilman Paul Johnson were presented plaques from the League of Cities and Towns for their eight years of public service.

The plaques were presented on behalf of the league by Mayor Al Krieger, who noted that both Nelson and Johnson “have put their heart and soul into this. They've done a lot for the community.”

Now that he sits in Nelson's former chair, Krieger said, he can appreciate how much work it involves.