Jul. 20—The Waynesville Planning Board prepared to send a set of standards for smaller subdivisions at its meeting Monday, which could go before the town aldermen in August.

The standards for cottage developments and conservation subdivisions would offer an alternative to traditional subdivisions and aim to reduce the impact to the surrounding area by preserving half of the development from any building whatsoever.

With no minimum lot size requirements, the houses built would likely be grouped closely together with the trade off of a large amount of open space.

A cottage development under the standards would include single-family or two-family residences arranged around a shared open space, often with other amenities, like parking, shared as well. The cottages could not include manufactured homes or a movable home like an RV or camper.

"With cottages, it's like you're building a town home development, but they can be detached town homes instead of the shared wall. It gives people the ability to share facilities. It could be a laundry room or a civic space. It doesn't have to be parking," said Development Services Director Elizabeth Teague.

The board approved the standards with a few final tweaks.

The revised standards are part of an ongoing effort from the planning board to offer alternatives to high-density housing developments in Waynesville. The board initiated a subdivision subcommittee in Nov. 2021 to evaluate land development standards in light of the town's 2035 comprehensive plan.

As a result of the effort, the Board of Aldermen adopted ordinances that made several additional steps mandatory before major site plans could be considered for approval, including environmental surveys, traffic impact reports and neighborhood meetings.

A few ordinances are still under development, like roadway standards and street classifications as well as the possibility of major subdivision tiers.

As the planning board wraps up its work with the subdivision committee, Teague recommended that it consider evaluating the railroad corridor study, building height in residential areas and the impact of short term rentals on Waynesville's housing inventory.

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