College Township duplex ordinance not moving to public hearing yet

An ordinance proposing duplexes in R-1 zones will not go to a public hearing after council voted against moving the proposal forward.

The motion failed in a 3-2 vote Thursday after some council members were not comfortable with the ordinance in its current form.

The idea to add duplexes to R-1 single family home zoning was floated by the council in December. According to a memo by senior planner Mark Holdren, staff suggested examining the idea as a way to “diversify the housing types built in the township and also potentially allow for more housing to be affordable.”

There are more than 2,600 existing R-1 lots in the township, Holdren said in December, occupying about 17 percent of the township acreage. Under the proposed ordinance, duplexes would be permitted on lots exceeding 2 acres with no more than three dwelling units per acre.

There are 194 lots that are 1 acre or greater in size, he said in a January memo, 25 of which are vacant. At a minimum lot size of 2 acres or greater, there are 89 lots that meet that minimum size, 18 of which are vacant.

If a development meets workforce housing requirements, he said, 4.5 dwelling units would be permitted on a single acre.

Councilwoman Carla Stilson voiced her dissent with the ordinance, saying she didn’t feel it was ready to pass.

“My major problem is why allow duplexes in R-1 if they’re not likely to be built?” she said.

She also questioned the size of the minimum acreage, saying a single family home requires one-fifth of an acre to be built, but one half of a duplex requires one-third.

“If we’re going to have duplexes, they will likely be on smaller lots and neighborhoods with average income housing,” she said. “Two-acre lots are in more expensive neighborhoods. The developers buying up that land for duplexes will be minimal.”

Holdren said the ability to build duplexes would be possible in existing subdivisions, provided that the community homeowners associations didn’t prohibit them. Planning Commission member Anthony Fragola, who was in attendance, said the 89 potential lots in existing developments could hold duplexes depending on the associations’ rules.

Council members Eric Bernier and Steven Lyncha voted to move the ordinance to public hearing, while Stilson, Chairman Lynn Herman and Vice Chairman Rich Francke voted against.

Township Manager Adam Brumbaugh said the ordinance will come back before the council for further discussion in the future.

This story was originally published February 18, 2016 at 10:03 PM with the headline "College Township duplex ordinance not moving to public hearing yet."