University fellow presents housing recommendations to York council

Ben Bensinger, a University of Nebraska–Lincoln fellow, presented findings from a mixed-methods housing study and urged the city to update zoning and the comprehensive plan to support more housing. "The purpose of, my internship and, housing recommendation I provided are to update the housing, zoning based on the comprehensive plan update and best practices," Bensinger said.

Bensinger described results of a 2023 university study that found broad community support for density increases (he cited an 82% support figure from that earlier study) and recommended several approaches: promote diverse housing options, consider an overlay or planned-unit-development district in the downtown C-1 zone to allow housing over retail, and modify parking minimums downtown to free up space for housing. He also noted he recommended against creating a new R-4 district in York, arguing other tools would better meet local goals.

Council members thanked Bensinger for the research and indicated they would study his recommendations. The presentation was delivered as part of the council's regular agenda; no ordinance or zoning changes were proposed at the meeting and no vote on zoning policy took place.