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Journal-News.com

Home design changes to debut in Hamilton

Lisa A. Bernard

JournalNews

HAMILTON — Proposed changes impacting the city's standards for residential design and the construction of new single-family homes will make their first appearance before the Hamilton City Council this week.

The council tabled a proposal calling for changes in January following concerns expressed by the Home Builders Association of Greater Cincinnati.

Since then, city planners have begun working with the association and other concerned residents to create a proposal that strikes a balance among the city's objectives, housing market pressures, developers and builders, officials have said.

With limited land left for new development in Hamilton, city officials have been pushing for tighter regulation over construction materials and design standards in hope of promoting more quality residential development.

The proposals, which fall under the city's Zoning Ordinance, call for increasing the minimum lot width from 80 feet new homes to 100 feet.

Developers can still build on 80-foot lots, but will be required to add various amenities such as park space or a community clubhouse. Amenities would be given a specific point value, and developers would be required to meet a 10-point minimum.

In addition, the proposal calls for adding buffers between developments in which 80-foot lots abut subdivisions where lot widths are larger.

As for design standards, that proposal gives detailed requirements for exterior finish materials, roofing, primary entries and porches, garages and driveways, windows, setback and accessory buildings.

In addition, the proposal establishes "anti-monotony standards," which would prohibit builders from placing homes that share the same exterior design and finish near each other.

Exceptions are allowed if the builder meets a minimum of three requirements from a choice of seven.

Earlier this month the reworked proposal gained the support of Hamilton's

Planning Commission, which

recommended that the coun-

cil approve the new guide-

lines.

During that meeting Dan Hendricks, director of governmental affairs for the Home Builders Association, he felt his group's involvement in the creation of the proposal helped mitigate many fears.

"We had a lot of discussions and I think a lot of our concerns have been answered," he said.

Copies of the proposal are available in the city's Planning Department, located on the third floor of One Renaissance Center, 345 High St.

If approved by the council the new guidelines would impact all developers who have yet to receive the city's approval for their preliminary plat plans, officials said.

The Council is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday on the first floor of One Renaissance Center.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2186 or lbernard@coxohio.com.