LaFayette City Council amends zoning ordinance
The LaFayette City Council voted to amend a zoning ordinance of the city code during a special called meeting on Tuesday, July 7.
The meeting and the public hearing on the zoning amendment was held via teleconference.
With the amendment to the zoning ordinance, the Council reduced the lot sizes in both R2 Residential (multi-family and single family) and R3 Residential (multi-family, single family and manufactured home parks) on which houses can be built. Setbacks were also changed to allow for the front of houses to be closer to the front of the road they are on.
Setbacks for R2 and R3 zones, which had had a minimum of 30 feet, were reduced to a minimum of 15 feet. Setbacks for R1 did not change.
In addition, rear setbacks in both R2 and R3 were reduced from 35 feet down to 20 feet, while side setbacks in R3 were reduced from 10 feet to five feet.
The changes went into effect immediately.
Mayor Andy Arnold explained that the city is hoping to follow the lead of what Chattanooga has been doing with the revitalization of St. Elmo near the Georgia border in Chattanooga Valley and the city’s Southside.
In approving the downsizing of the lots, Arnold says the goal is to make home ownership in the city more attractive to more people.
“Young people are wanting smaller houses, smaller yards to keep up and closer neighbors,” he said. “And they want to walk. We’re hoping to make the city of LaFayette more walkable.”
City Manager David Hamilton said that while the city has a large rental community, there is a big need to create more home ownership, adding that an increase in numbers could attract more businesses and restaurant options to the city.
“It is extremely important that we find a way to encourage that private investment in housing that will ultimately lead to higher home ownership,” he stated.
Hamilton also clarified that “tiny houses,” which have become increasingly popular over the years, are not currently listed in the zoning. However, while there is no ban on them, they likely would not be allowed as their square footage usually falls below minimum requirements.
It was stated in the meeting that the Zoning and Planning Commission met to discuss the issue, but did not get a second
on a motion to adopt any changes. However, Arnold said it was the commission’s job to look at the issue and pass it along to the city council, who ultimately makes the final decision.
The council carried the motion by a 4-0 vote.
Councilman Chris Davis said this was a process that began some three years ago, and while changes were discussed back then, no action was taken. However, he felt now was the time to make the change as developers are showing interest in building homes in LaFayette.
“Yes, we do have developers that are looking and it’s because we’re cleaning up our town,” he said. “They’re seeing that we care and we want growth and they’re seeing good things happening in our city.”
“We need development here,” he later added. “We need those sales. We’re in the business of utilities. That’s how we run this city. That’s how we give these kids recreation and parks and things for our youth. And if what we’re doing, that we started three years ago, gets these developers to come to our town and develop, I don’t see (that) there’s any way that this is wrong.”
There are separate subdivision ordinances that the council will have to go back and realign to match up with what was approved in the July 7 meeting. The Council noted that it would take approximately four to six weeks for all of that to happen.