Olean aldermen debate standards after two-story structure draws neighborhood complaints; staff says it is not a "tiny home"

A two-story structure on Billyton Avenue that neighbors called a "tiny home" prompted aldermen on March 4 to discuss whether Olean needs new standards for small dwellings.

Alderman Jason raised concerns and suggested a moratorium; committee members reviewed the city's size threshold. Ryan (staff member) told the committee a "tiny home is 400 square feet or less," excluding lofts or similar spaces, and said the structure under construction measures about 768 square feet and complies with existing building codes and permits.

Neighbors and some aldermen criticized the building’s appearance and the use of piers or stilts rather than a conventional foundation. "It looks terrible, and the neighbors are all up in arms about that," said a committee member who described resident complaints. Staff reminded the committee that the city currently allows multiple foundation types (including slab, crawl space and piers) and said the visual appearance above grade, not the foundation method, is the issue the council may wish to address.

Committee members asked for consideration of form-based requirements or standards that would set minimum visual or siting expectations (for example, requiring a visible foundation or minimum finished appearance). No ordinance or moratorium was adopted; members discussed bringing the issue back for a policy review after budgeting or under strategic planning so the council can consider minimum size, foundation and appearance standards.

Staff said the structure on Billyton Avenue "meets all codes and does not fall under the tiny homes" definition, and that any change would require a code or policy change.