After 14 months of research, meetings, and public hearings, the city of Bryan now has regulations regarding what’s officially known as detached shared housing.
More commonly known as stealth dorms and aggie shacks, they will require a conditional use permit in all residential areas except multi-family.
The structures, which have a minimum of four bedrooms and occupied by more than two unrelated people, must have one off-street parking place per bedroom. There’s also a requirement that no more than half the front yard can be paved. And at least two trees must be on the lot.
The council’s support of recommendations from the planning and zoning commission drew praise from one of three public speakers.
Jenny Smith said she’s attended P&Z meetings and met with city staff for the last year.
A regular speaker at council meetings, Debra Miller, says it’s an excellent start.
And Patrick Giammalva called on enforcing current and future stealth dorms as apartments. No one on the council discussed that suggestion before approving the planning and zoning commission’s recommendations on a six to nothing vote.
