City board ponders smaller home lots

Arkansas side may alter land use rules to accommodate ‘tiny house’ movement

At its regular meeting Monday, the Texarkana, Ark., Board of Directors will consider new land use rules to accommodate smaller homes.

Proposed changes to city ordinances would allow single-family residences on lots smaller than those where home construction is now allowed. The changes are recommended by the city Planning Commission, which took up the matter after Mayor Ruth Penney-Bell asked them to look into the “tiny house” movement.

“The adoption of the 1988 longterm comprehensive plan set lot widths based on projections for a housing market that has changed since then. The trend towards smaller, more affordable housing will be aided by allowing development on these existing lots without a need for review, research and/or re-platting into larger lots,” according to briefing documents prepared by city staff.

In at least 99 older subdivisions in Wards 1, 2, 3 and 4, the lot width now allowed exceeds the actual width of lots.

Living in tiny houses—typically defined as less than 400 square feet in size but often as small as 100 square feet—has become a trend among cost-conscious homeowners aiming to simplify their lives. Television shows such as “Tiny House Nation” have helped popularize the idea.

The board will also vote on adding several fees for Texarkana Water Utilities services to recoup their cost.

If the measure passes, TWU will begin charging:

■ $100 for every two hours smoke testing,

■ $250 for

every

three

of

hours spent inspecting water mains closed cirucuit television,

■ $100 for fire hydrant flow tests requested by customers,

■ $135 for backflow testing,

■ $60 per liquid waste transport permit, and

■ $15 per septic waste manifest book.

The agenda includes a citizens communication time during which members of the public may address the board on any topic for up to five minutes each.

The meeting is scheduled 6 p.m. Monday at City Hall, Walnut St.

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