Ferguson supervisors debate how to unlock 1,300 planned housing units and reform zoning

Ferguson Township supervisors spent a large portion of their Feb. 17 meeting discussing vacant and entitled land inside the township’s regional growth boundary and how to encourage development that could expand the tax base and add housing.

Planning staff presented GIS mapping and said roughly 1,300 housing units are approved on paper but not yet constructed. The manager said many plans are tentatively approved but developers face high construction and infrastructure costs, especially for roads and stormwater, which can slow buildout.

Supervisor Heller framed the item as a policy discussion to “increase the tax cash flow into the township,” and urged options that could accelerate development. Supervisors debated several approaches, including allowing accessory dwelling units or small conversions by right, revisiting parking minimums, making minor code corrections, and identifying where text amendments could reduce permitting friction.

Planning Director Kimberly Smith and staff noted that some parking reductions in the Blaze Alexander case were justified by industry norms and the automated car wash, but warned that ad hoc approvals can create inconsistency; staff said they will compile a prioritized list of ordinance changes, potential funding measures and the likely tradeoffs for board consideration.

Board members asked staff for a concise table showing which parcels and plans account for the 1,300 units, acreage estimates and density ratios to inform policy choices. The manager said staff will return with recommendations, including which items are amenable to quick fixes and which require longer, more resource‑intensive code rewrites.