Quick take
- Longview's zoning rules set minimum lot sizes, setbacks and home sizes. The city is looking at making those smaller to allow more homes per acre, Development Services Director Michael Shirley told KLTV.
- Homes now must be six to eight feet apart. The city is looking at three or four feet in some cases, plus attached housing such as townhomes.
- Following Dallas, the city is also looking at dropping the commercial building code, including fire sprinkler requirements, for small complexes of about six to eight units. Larger apartment buildings would keep it.
- The ideas came from a community housing study. Some could take effect in three to four months with City Council approval; all of them could take 12 to 18 months.
Longview is looking for ways to make homes easier and cheaper to build inside the city, and some of the ideas would change what new neighborhoods look like, KLTV reported Monday.
The city's zoning rules require minimum lot sizes, setbacks and home sizes. "In order to encourage more density we're going to be looking at making those requirements smaller," Development Services Director Michael Shirley told the station.
What's being considered
- Closer homes: houses now must be six to eight feet apart. The city is looking at four or three feet in some cases.
- Smaller footprints: smaller, narrower lots and smaller minimum home sizes.
- Attached housing: more room for townhomes and similar homes.
- Small complexes: taking a cue from Dallas, the city is looking at dropping the commercial building code for small complexes of about six to eight units in one or two buildings. That would mean no fire sprinklers required there. Larger apartment buildings would stay under the commercial code.
Shirley said land is a big part of a home's cost, and fitting more homes on an acre spreads that cost out. The proposals came from a community housing study. Some could take effect in three to four months if the City Council approves them, and the full set could take 12 to 18 months.