A series of changes to the county zoning ordinance have been recommended for approval by the county’s Planning Commission.

The commission’s recommendation Tuesday will next go before the county commissioners for consideration along with possible implementation of solar farm regulations.

The first proposed amendment would define a “setback.”

“(We have) had growing concerns about people violating the setback,” Zoning Officer Michael Lyon said, from a municipal right of way. He said the definition would require any construction that does not meet the setback to be approved by the Zoning Hearing Board as a variance.

Several other amendments dealt specifically with housing issues.

One would allow two single family homes on the same parcel if the parcel is at least 1.5 acres.

Lyon said he’s been approached twice about that possibility being expanded into residential areas “to make more accommodation for available housing.”

County Planner Dan Glotz said these requests come from time to time and most likely impact rural areas because of the sewer requirements.

A clarification would specifically identify a “duplex” as a two-family dwelling and that would be a permitted use in the county’s rural zoning district.

Lyon said there are “some duplexes here and there” in that zoning district but that the change is “trying to accommodate more available housing if someone wants to do that.”

Commission chair Paul Pascuzzi said it was “weird we didn’t have that in there.”

An additional amendment focused on housing would add multi-family residences into the business district.

Glotz said this would cover instances where a storefront is on the first floor of a building with apartments above.

The final amendment would allow a camp or recreational cabin as a permitted use – not requiring any extra oversight – in the rural district.

Lyon said this was a recommendation from the county’s solicitor born out of a neighbor dispute.