In January, the city of Bryan’s Planning and Zoning Commission formed a citizen subcommittee in regards to stealth dorms in established neighborhoods.
After two public meetings and almost three hundred surveys, the subcommittee reported their findings at a workshop earlier this month.
The chairman of the subcommittee, Kyle Incardona, says increased traffic, litter and safety were among the top concerns.
“Neighborhood integrity was a very big one, stealth dorms removing housing options for non-students, and building standards for stealth dorms,” were other concerns said Incardona.
The subcommittee recommended a two-phase approach to help regulate the development of stealth dorms.
“We’re not trying to prevent development, we’re not trying to prevent lot owners or homeowners decide what they want to do with their own homes, but we are trying to making sure we don’t break up the neighborhood integrity,” said Incardona.
Incardona said a series of public meetings will be held in the upcoming weeks, and you can find more information and make comments online by going to the Planning and Zoning section of the city’s website.
Click below to hear Kyle Incardona visiting with WTAW’s Chelsea Reber.
Courtesy of the City of Bryan:
This past January, the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) formed a citizen subcommittee in response to concerns about the increase in requests to re-subdivide lots and the use of by-the-room occupancy rental properties, often leased by unrelated tenants, in established neighborhoods. After holding two public input meetings and reviewing each of the 288 citizen surveys submitted, the subcommittee reported their findings and proposed plan for additional citizen input at their regularly scheduled workshop meeting on Thursday, July 20, 2017.
The top citizen perceived issues regarding by-the-room occupancy rental properties include concerns such as the loss of neighborhood integrity, increased noise, lack of suitable parking, poor building standards, unkempt lawns, reduced housing options for non-students, increased traffic, litter, and safety. With the input received to date, the subcommittee has recommended a two-phase approach to help regulate the development of these types of properties. Some of the subcommittee’s proposed principles include:
- Reducing the percentage of required signatures from property owners within a subdivision from 66% to 58% to rezone the subdivision to a Residential Neighborhood Conservation District.
- Defining Stealth Dorms as Detached Shared Housing (DSH) and potentially allowing these properties in residential districts with prior approval of a Conditional Use Permit.
- Considering the adoption of a Home Improvement Incentive Program.
- Creating a Neighborhood Overlay District with increased development standards for the redevelopment of Detached Shared Housing.
Citizens will have additional opportunities to share their input and provide feedback prior to the implementation of these recommendations. A series of public meetings will be held in the upcoming weeks. Comments may also be submitted online by using the contact form at www.bryantx.gov.