A proposal to reduce front and back yard setbacks governed by the county zoning ordinance will receive an additional layer of review in the next month.

Commissioner Jeff Eggleston made the pitch to the county Planning Commission.

His proposal highlighted that the current setbacks in the zoned municipalities are 30 feet in several zoning districts.

“This distance is too restrictive and impedes construction at a time when we have little construction and are trying to encourage new development and repurpose properties that are declining,” Eggleston said in a proposal to the Commission.

He said he tried to find data supporting the current distances without success.

“The zoning regulations themselves give no specific reason for these setbacks being 30 feet,” he said. “The business districts get a 20-foot setback for some reason instead of a 30-foot setback.”

He proposed chainring the front and backyard setbacks to 10 feet on all sides. His proposal would also slash the setback – from 40 to 20 feet – for front yards on a state or federal road.

“The Planning Commission should authorize the change or explain how the regulation specifically makes the community safer to justify the status quo,” Eggleston argued.

Deputy Planning Director Michael Lyon said no action was taken on the proposal during Tuesday’s Planning Commission meeting.

He said he would be reviewing and documenting all of the setback variances in the last 5-10 years, noting that is a “minimal” number.

Lyon said the issue would be back before the commission at the May meeting.