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Council forwards Habitat for Humanity rezoning to council after removing brick-water-table requirement
Summary
On Sept. 9 the City of Gallatin Council Committee voted to remove a planning-commission condition requiring a brick water table on six Habitat for Humanity units at Examiner Court and to send ordinance 02509-48 to full council as amended.
The City of Gallatin Council Committee on Sept. 9 voted to send ordinance 02509-48 — a request to rezone 0.66 acres from CS (Commercial Services) to MRO (Multiple Residential and Office) with a preliminary master development plan for a six-unit Examiner Court residential community — to the full council as amended.
Brian Rose, city planner, said the project would provide six dwelling units in a court-style layout south of Tula Poplar Drive and west of Sumner Hall Drive. Rose said the units exceed the minimum lot-area requirement, providing roughly 4,792 square feet per unit where 3,000 square feet is required, and that the plan complies with the intent of Plan Gallatin. The planning commission recommended the rezoning and PMDP with a condition requiring a brick water table at the base of each unit and a request for architectural alternatives because the proposal would not meet the city's 70% brick/stone façade requirement.
Councilman Jones moved to remove the planning-commission condition requiring the brick water table; the motion was seconded and passed by a recorded voice vote reflected in the meeting as 4–1 in favor. Habitat for Humanity representatives said removing the brick would reduce construction costs by roughly $3,000 per house. Cal Gentry of Civil Land Company, representing Habitat for Humanity, told the committee the applicant had agreed at planning commission to add the brick water table but that the developer and Habitat preferred to omit it to lower costs.
Kate Ritchie, executive director of the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate, said eliminating the brick trade would save about $18,000 across the six homes and help keep the units affordable. Gentry said the units would use cementitious siding (Hardie board) and that nearby houses predominantly use similar materials.
After the council removed the brick requirement, a motion to forward the rezoning and PMDP to full council "as amended" passed. Members said the project could be a model for smaller, more affordable ownership options in Gallatin. No final rezoning or building permits were issued at the committee meeting; those actions require full council approval and subsequent permitting.
