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Brownsville approves new mixed-use zoning district that excludes duplexes
Summary
A new mixed-use residential-commercial district (Ordinance 1038) was approved to allow single-family detached homes, townhouses, condominiums and multifamily apartments while excluding duplexes and similar small multi-family units; the planning commission had recommended the change to encourage higher-end forms of housing in designated areas.
The Board of Aldermen approved Ordinance 1038 to create a new mixed-use residential-commercial district that permits single-family detached homes, condominiums, townhouses and multifamily apartments but excludes duplexes, triplexes and quadplexes.
City planning staff said the planning commission proposed the district to provide an alternative to the existing mixed-use district with different minimum lot-area requirements and a focus on higher-density forms such as townhouses and apartments. “The only difference between the one that we have now and this one…we have more detail with regard to the minimum required lot area, and we don't allow, this one does not allow for duplexes,” Merrill, a staff member, explained during the reading.
The ordinance lists minimum lot sizes for several housing types: townhouses at 3,000 square feet per unit (row townhouses allowed), condominiums at 20,000 square feet plus 2,000 square feet per additional dwelling unit in excess of four, and single-family detached at 10,000 square feet. Planning staff said the provision was intended to steer development toward townhouses and apartments rather than duplexes; the board approved the reading following a motion.
Officials said the existing mixed-use district will remain in the code; the new district adds an alternative regulatory framework for selected areas. The board and staff discussed referring the ordinance back to the planning commission if aldermen had reservations; no referral was requested during this reading.
