BRENHAM PLANNING AND ZONING TO CONSIDER AMENDMENT RESTRICTING METAL HOUSING
Brenham’s Planning and Zoning Commission could possibly act on an ordinance amendment to put restrictions on metal housing at its meeting Monday.
Recently, residential buildings completely made of metal were built on properties along Old Mill Creek Road, east of Highway 290 West. The city says that “preserving character and ensuring land use compatibility” are objectives of the zoning ordinance and Comprehensive Plan.
Staff finds that houses made completely of metal are not compatible within or next to neighborhoods with houses of brick, stone, or other nonmetallic exteriors.
Therefore, the city is recommending an amendment of zoning ordinance, setting a requirement that residences in select districts be built with a limited metal exterior. The districts with restrictions would be the R-1 (Residential Single Family), R-2 (Mixed Residential), and B-1 (Local Business/Residential Mixed Use) districts. However, homes in the R-3 district (Manufactured Home Residential) may be built with a full metal exterior.
The proposed amendment would dictate that a home in any of the restricted districts keep a minimum 75 percent non-metal exterior on wall surfaces facing the right-of-way, and 50 percent on walls not facing the right-of-way. In this case, non-metal is described as brick, stone, stucco, wood, vinyl, or fiber-cement siding.
In addition, the amendment states that accessory buildings over 160 square feet in area – on property less than an acre in size – needs to be built with at least 50 percent non-metal exterior on each wall, not including windows and doors.
Commissioners will also consider a request by John Hermann and Gregg Appel to rezone about 2.54 acres of land at 2412 South Market Street. The property owners are wanting consistent zoning on the tract of land, for future development.
Currently, the land is zoned for both mixed residential and commercial research and technology use. Staff recommend approval of the land being zoned for just commercial research and technology use.
The Commission will meet Monday afternoon at 5:15 p.m., at City Hall.