City council rejects proposed ADU rule change after lengthy public comment

The West Lafayette City Council voted 7-1 on March 3 to reject Ordinance 1-2025, an Area Planning Commission (APC)–sponsored amendment that would have permitted accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in portions of the Unified Zoning Ordinance (UZO).

The ordinance would have created a voluntary pathway for homeowners to add ADUs with several guardrails, including owner-occupancy requirements and size limits, as an approach described by proponents as “gentle densification.” The City Clerk called the roll and the final tally was seven nays and one aye; Councilor Blanco was recorded as the sole vote in favor.

Supporters said the change was a modest tool to add housing options near campus and in older neighborhoods. Opponents — including several neighborhood residents who spoke during the public comment period — said the measure risked eroding neighborhood character, would be difficult to enforce, and could accelerate conversions to rental properties.

Councilor Blanco said the proposal offered a small, controlled expansion of housing options; council members who opposed the ordinance said the city had not done sufficient outreach and that enforcement and parking concerns remained unresolved. "I will be voting no on the ADU ordinance, not because I don't like the idea of ADUs ... but I would like to see us go back and maybe take a more conservative relook," Councilor Bellisario said during council discussion.

Residents who spoke during the public comment period described a range of views. Marion Welsh of Riverton Drive said, "I am opposed to the ADU," and described complaints she has made about rental maintenance and late-night parties in her neighborhood. Alex Spears, who described himself as a nearby resident, argued ADUs would help seniors and working families afford to stay in the city, saying, "the cost of assisted living is $5,000 per month," and calling student housing dynamics part of the fiscal picture. Zachary Veil urged the council to "follow the public" and vote down the ordinance, citing concerns about parking, green space and neighborhood character.

The discussion included references to the New Chauncey neighborhood plan and earlier zoning changes intended to step density down from campus-adjacent parcels. Several councilors and speakers urged stronger coordination with Purdue University and more targeted outreach before changing zoning rules. Multiple speakers asked for enforcement of existing rental and property-maintenance rules before enabling an additional layer of housing options.

Because the ordinance came to the council as an APC-submitted UZO amendment on its first and only reading, the council took a single roll-call vote after public comment. The motion to hear and vote on the ordinance was moved and seconded by councilors on the floor; the clerk recorded the vote as follows: Bellisario — No; Blanco — Aye; Dennis — No; Lee — No; Burr — No; Parker — No; Sanders — No; Veta Manis — No. The motion failed and the ordinance did not advance.

Council members and several speakers said housing remains a top priority for the city and that additional planning and public engagement will follow. The mayor and the newly appointed housing director were cited by councilors as resources to coordinate future work on housing strategy.

Votes and next steps: the ADU amendment (Ordinance 1-2025) failed on the council floor; councilors said they will continue housing work through the mayor's office and the new housing director.