Shared Housing and Middle Housing ... big changes coming to preserve our neighborhoods.
Shared Housing
- A new building classification for residential structures, reviewed during permitting.
- It basically determines what is a true single-family residence and what is an
"Ag Shack" or "stealth dorm," something that has been missing from our codes.
- Shared Housing will no longer be allowed to be built in single-family neighborhoods.
- These changes were recently adopted by the City.
"Middle Housing"
- A new zoning classification.
- Shared Housing will only be allowed in Middle Housing zones, as will duplexes,
townhouses and, small and medium multiplexes.
- Middle Housing zones will be adopted by the usual rezoning process, which
includes public input. It is likely that areas such as those behind the
Bush/Wellborn intersection, the University/Texas Ave. intersection and
Northgate will be rezoned since they are almost entirely rentals already.
- Middle Housing zones will be established from the existing zones called "Mixed
Residential" and will allow a higher unit density than currently exists.
Though not a cure-all, these changes should effectively prevent new "Ag Shacks" from being built in existing neighborhoods zoned for single-family residences.
For a much more detailed discussion including why the "four-unrelated" law never seems to get enforced and what these new classifications will and won't do
CLICK HERE.
