The pictures below show an SDU that was designed by Chuck Bailey, and architect who lives in the JWN. It was designed and built after Council adopted the Chambers Special Area Zone “sloped setback” standard with an 8′ spring point.

The lot is a relatively small lot, only 50′ wide, which is the minimum width for a lot in the R-1 zone. And yet, here is a nice looking cottage, with it’s own small “front yard” (on the east). And it doesn’t have a major negative impact on the backyard of the neighbor to the west.

This should make clear that the 12′ spring point proposed by staff is not at all necessary, and would only allow highly intrusive structures to be built too close to the neighbors’ backyards.

View to north from W. 11th Ave. SDU is behind the fence in the rear yard of the yellow house.

View of SDU entry from Northeast. Note the little front yard to the right (east)

View down the South side of the SDU. The backyard of the neighbor to the west can be seen through the gap

View down the fence line between the SDU and the backyard of the neighbor to the west

View from the backyard of the neighbor to the west. While the SDU has a very noticeable presence, the key  is that it doesn’t “loom” over this neighbor’s backyard and it doesn’t create a major intrusion into the  neighbor’s privacy.