March 29, 2024

Lot coverage increases in city’s residential areas

Residents in the R-1, R-2 and R-3 zoning districts throughout the city will now have more flexibility on how to distribute lot coverage following city council’s approval of two ordinance amendments on Monday.

City council approved increasing the maximum allowable lot coverage requirement in the districts to 40 percent, up 10 percent in the R-1 and R-2 districts and five percent in the R-3 district. The council also approved increasing the amount of all-weather surface allowed in a front yard of a property from 40 percent to 50 percent.

The amendment to increase the maximum allowable lot coverage was requested by the Newton Housing Development Corporation and Ground Breaker Homes due to the current size of the houses planned at the Cardinal Ridge development.

The approved houses were within the 30 percent allowable coverage but any addition to the structures, including decks, would put them above the approved square footage number.

“What they submitted for the building permit did not include decks,” planning and zoning director Erin Chambers said. “That is something that is not a part of their package that they have for sale but it is likely it would be an add on that a home buyer is going to want to do.”

Upon researching the request, the planning and zoning commission found Newton is far more restrictive in this area then surrounding communities. The commission used comparable data from cities including Bondurant, Waukee, Norwalk, Indianola, Pella and Knoxville to reach the recommendation to increase the coverage size.

City administrator Matt Muckler said the amendment would not change the related rule limiting residential properties to a maximum of 60 percent of their total lot area to be covered with an all-weather surface and/or building footprint.

“With this, minimal impact to the overall green space on individual residential lots is anticipated,” Muckler said.

While NHDC and Ground Breaker Homes submitted the request, the changes will be applied to all residences in the specified residential zoning district.

The second change to the city code increases the amount of all-weather surface allowed in a front yard of a property 10 percent to a total of 50 percent. All-weather services including asphalt, portland cement concrete, turf blocks, brick pavers of sufficient thickness to adequately support motor vehicles or gravel if it is at least three inches thick and kept free of weeds.

This change comes after citizens expressed an interest in adding width to their driveway in front of their homes and the growing popularity or demand for three-car garages in new home construction. With the previously allowed 40 percent yard coverage rule, such expansions could not easily be accomplished.

“Even though they may be well within compliance of the 60 percent total lot coverage rule with their proposed pavement widening, the 40 percent front yard coverage rule would prohibit the additional paving width in some cases,” Muckler said.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com