The Bryan city council took up three matters at Tuesday’s meeting affecting residential neighborhoods.
Without discussion, final approval was given to banning developers from turning a large residential lot into multiple smaller lots. The council agreed with the planning and zoning commission (P&Z) that this would help regulate rental housing.
The council approved the first of two readings for reducing the percentage of property owners interested in establishing a residential conservation district from 66 to 58 percent.
While both of those measures address to some degree the future of stealth dorms and other rental housing, planning administrator Martin Zimmerman told the council there will be a joint meeting with P&Z on that specific topic August 8.
The council also overturned a ruling by the Historic Landmarks Commission to grant the owner of the Astin-Porter House at East 29th and Hill a wrought iron fence along 29th as tall as six and a half feet. The Landmarks Commission sought a maximum height of three feet. Homeowner Craig Jackson said a three foot fence was not tall enough to protect young children.
The owner now needs the approval of the city’s zoning board of adjustments.