Title
A Conditional Use to allow a Tiny House Community in the R-Flex High zone district located at 3103 North Prospect Street.
(Quasi-Judicial)
Presenter:
William Gray, Senior Planner, City Planning Department
Kevin Walker, Director, City Planning Department
Body
Summary:
Owner: We Fortify
Representative: John Olson, Urban Landscapes and Shelly Jensen, We Fortify
Location: 3103 North Prospect Street
Located in: Council District 5
A Tiny House Community consisting of 18 tiny houses, a community meeting and storage building, off-street parking, landscaping, and private green space. The project includes the following applications: a Rezoning from R-5 (Multi-Family High) to R-Flex High; a Conditional Use and Development Plan for a Tiny House Community; and development standard adjustments to reduce setbacks from public streets from 20-feet to 10-feet, setbacks from adjacent residential and mixed-use districts from 10-feet to 5-feet, parking requirement reduction from one (1) space per tiny house to a 1/2-space per tiny house, minimum lot area per tiny house from 1,000 square feet to 690 square feet, and minimum separation of Tiny Homes from 10-feet to 6-feet
Background:
Please see the attached City Planning Commission Staff Report for a complete analysis of the proposed applications.
Review Criteria:
CUDP-24-0014 - Prospect Village (Conditional Use)
The Criteria for Approval for CUDP-24-0014, Conditional Use, as set forth in City Code Section (UDC) 7.5.601.C.2 are indicated below:
a. The application complies with any use-specific standards for the use in Part 7.3.3 (Use-Specific Standards).
b. The size, scale, height, density, traffic impacts, and other impacts of the use are compatible with existing and planned uses in the surrounding area, and any potential adverse impacts are mitigated to the extent feasible; and
c. The City’s existing infrastructure and public improvements, including but not limited to its street, trail, and sidewalk systems, have adequate capacity to serve the proposed development and any burdens on those systems have been mitigated to the maximum extent feasible.
The City Planning Staff finds the Criterial for Approval of UDC Section 7.5.601.C.2 applicable for Conditional Use are met with this application.
Previous Council Action:
N/A
Financial Implications:
N/A
City Council Appointed Board/Commission/Committee Recommendation:
City Planning Commission, at their March 12, 2025, meeting voted unanimously (6-0) to approve each of the applications related to Prospect Village - A Tiny House Community. Vice Chair Foos and Commissioners Cecil and Casey were absent from this meeting. The applications reviewed by the Planning Commission with a recommendation of approval to City Council are as follows:
ZONE-24-0017 Zone Map Amendment (Rezoning) R-5 to R-Flex High
CUDP-24-0014 Conditional Use Tiny House Community Land Use
DEPN-24-0123 Development Plan Tiny House Community Development
DVSA-25-0001 Development Standards Adjustment Tiny Home Minimum Lot Area
DVSA-24-0004 Development Standards Adjustment Separation from Adjacent Residential
DVSA-24-0005 Development Standards Adjustment Separation from Public Right-of-Way
DVSA-24-0006 Development Standards Adjustment Tiny Home Parking
DVSA-24-0011 Development Standards Adjustment Tiny Home Separation
Two (2) citizens spoke, one (1) in-support and the other opposed the applications. The testimony in support expressed a desire for the project to serve seniors in the community and thought it would be a good fit in the neighborhood. The comment in opposition to the application stated strongly that the application needed to be developed in accordance with the standards and requirements of the R-5 zoning district. Please refer to the minutes from the hearing for a detailed record.
Recommended Action
Proposed Motions:
CUDP-24-0014 - Prospect Village (Conditional Use)
1. Motion to Approve
Approve the Conditional Use to allow a Tiny House Community land use in the R-Flex High zone district located at 3103 North Prospect Street, based upon the findings that the request complies with the Criteria for Approval for Conditional Use as set forth in City Code Section 7.5.601.C.2 with the following conditions:
1. Conditional Use applies only to Lot 1, Prospect Village.
2. The number of tiny homes is limited to 18.
3. The Tiny House Community, its owner, heirs and assigns shall limit the occupancy of each tiny home to residents with a household income that is at or below 50% Area Median Income.
2. Motion to Deny
Deny the Conditional Use to allow a Tiny House Community land use in the R-Flex High zone district located at 3103 North Prospect Street, based upon the findings that the request does not comply with the Criteria for Approval for Conditional Use as set forth in City Code Section 7.5.601.C.2.
Summary of Ordinance Language
An ordinance amending the zoning map of the City of Colorado Springs relating to 0.78 acres located at 3103 North Prospect Street from R-5 (Multi-Family High) to R-Flex High.