The city of Akron is proposing changes to its housing rules that could make it easier to build new single-family and multi-family homes in neighborhoods. The proposals, which are expected to come before City Council later this summer, include eliminating minimum lot size requirements and allowing more types of housing, such as duplexes and triplexes.

Increasing Density and Affordability

According to Richard Bancroft, executive officer for the Building Industry Association of Northeast Ohio, the proposals are a step in the right direction. “The biggest key to increasing the housing stock is to eliminate barriers,” he said. “There’s got to be an increase in the density for it to really work.” Bancroft praised the proposal, calling it a “great step forward for Akron” that could serve as a model for the region.

The city’s proposals come as it has been working to improve access to housing. Recommendations from Unify Akron included zoning reform, and the city has already tasked an architect with creating free plans for developers that are pre-approved by the city to try to ease some of the costs of building new homes.

The proposals include three main ideas: eliminating minimum lot size requirements, increasing the number of neighborhoods where duplexes and triplexes are allowed, and changing the rules for properties that were built before the new zoning rules but are no longer in compliance.

Mayor Shammas Malik said the city wants to undo restrictions that make it hard to build new homes and invest in existing ones. “These proposed changes are about modernizing our policies, supporting neighborhood revitalization, and making it easier for residents to find housing that fits their needs,” he said.

Original reporting: Signal Akron — read the source article.