Cottage Court Overlay

Cottage Court Conditional Use Permits

PROJECT DOCUMENTS AND LINKS

The Cottage Court Overlay is a “Missing Middle” housing ordinance that allows for higher-density development within residential districts in Keene. It was created to promote efficient use of land and expand the range of housing types available in the community. In addition, the Cottage Court Overlay encourages development that is compact, pedestrian-scale, affordable, and compatible with the surrounding neighborhood.

Cottage Courts, which inspired the name for the overlay, are groupings of small houses around a shared public space. Considered a type of “missing middle” housing, they can be built as for-sale or rental units. Homes in a cottage court development are typically oriented around shared green space and have parking screened from the street. Other types of “missing middle” housing allowed in the Cottage Court overlay include duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, small townhome buildings, and bungalows.

Cottage Court developments are a great option for creating housing on properties with limited street frontage and/or an awkward shape. They are a type of “residential infill,” or adding housing to an existing neighborhood on vacant or underutilized properties. This type of development adds housing density that is physically balanced with adjacent houses in terms of size, scale, and architectural character.

Qualifying for Cottage Court Conditional Use Permits

Properties in residential zoning districts with at least 30ft of frontage and connection to City water and sewer qualify for the Cottage Court CUP.

Requirements/Constraints

  • Maximum Average Unit Size: 1250sf
  • Maximum Unit Footprint: 900sf
  • Minimum & maximum parking requirements
  • Wetland buffers and floodplain development standards apply
  • Impervious lot coverage requirements apply

Development Flexibility

  • Multiple principal buildings on a single lot
  • No minimum lot size or maximum density
  • Mixed-use development uses (range of uses allowed based on district)
  • Common ownership or fee simple lots
  • Reduced lot size, reduced frontage and no internal setbacks

The City began exploring options for creating smaller-format housing types after a housing study revealed that the demand for this type of housing in Keene is high (and growing!). Demand for this type of housing is particularly high among people age 55 and older, many of whom live alone.  The cottage court style of development would allow individuals to downsize to a smaller and more affordable home while still remaining in their community and having a place to call their own.  While cottage courts have existed in the U.S. for over 100 years, many zoning codes no longer accommodate them. 

CONTACT US

Community Development Department
communitydevelopment @ keenenh.gov
(603) 352-5440

Cottage Housing Sample