Watertown City Council to Review Zoning Updates Adding Campus and Congregate Living Districts
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - The Watertown City Council will take up a series of zoning text amendments Monday night that update the city’s Summary of District Regulations to reflect two newly created zoning districts: the CD Campus District and the R‑3S Congregate Living Residential District.
The proposal, Ordinance No. 26‑27, is scheduled for first reading and would revise Chapter 21.10 of the city’s zoning code. The updates incorporate district standards, definitions, and regulatory changes that were previously approved through separate ordinances but had not yet been added to the full district‑regulations chart.
Adds Two New Zoning Districts
The amendments formally insert:
· CD Campus District — a new zoning category designed for large institutional medical or educational campuses, created under Ordinance No. 26‑25.
· R‑3S Congregate Living Residential District — a district intended for congregate student housing with density determined by gross floor area per bedroom.
Updates to Existing Regulations
The ordinance also includes several technical corrections and additions:
· Updates to reflect enclosed parking when calculating lot‑area requirements for multi‑family projects.
· Slight increases in allowable densities within the R‑3 Multi‑Family Residential District.
· Adjustments to setback, height, and placement tables to ensure consistency across residential and non‑residential districts.
· Integration of new standards for student housing, accessory structures, and non‑residential development.
These changes ensure that all previously approved zoning amendments are fully incorporated into the city’s regulatory framework.
Planning Commission Recommendation
The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval (7‑0) at its July 9, 2026 meeting.
Next Steps
Monday’s meeting will serve as the first reading, with no council action taken until the second reading on August 3, 2026.
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