How many bedrooms in quadplexes?

Town council asks Planning Board to clarify its recommendation to reduce the number of bedrooms allowed in four-unit buildings

by CHRIS BURRITT

SUMMERFIELD – Debate over housing density has shifted to the number of bedrooms allowed in quadplexes, spurring developer David Couch to criticize a Summerfield Planning Board recommendation.

Summerfield Town Council discussed a proposed text amendment to the unified development ordinance (UDO) during its meeting Jan. 11. Adopted by the council last June, the ordinance updated rules governing residential and commercial development. Since then, town leaders have considered ways to tweak and clarify the document.

Town Manager Scott Whitaker presented to council a proposed UDO text amendment with changes suggested by the Planning Board and town staff.

As an example, the amendment updated the definition of multifamily dwellings, such as apartments – which aren’t allowed in Summerfield, according to the UDO.

By unanimous vote, the council approved the amendment, except for a section recommended by the Planning Board that the number of bedrooms in quadplexes in open space residential and open space mixed-use zoning districts be reduced from 10 to eight.

“The Planning Board got focused on the number of bedrooms,” Whitaker said.

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Speaking from the audience, Couch, owner of Summer eld Farms, asked, “What was their intent? Why would they want to regulate the number of bedrooms in the only multi-family building that will ever be allowed in Summer eld under the current ordinance?”

Expressing concerns about fair housing, Couch hinted at his earlier position that preventing higher density development may lead to housing discrimination litigation against the town.

The council remanded to the Planning Board the section dealing with the number of bedrooms in quadplexes, buildings that contain four dwelling units. Councilman Reece Walker said he wants the board to clarQuick Lube noify its recommendation. or oil chaappointment needed fnges & state inspections

Limiting the number of bedrooms in quadplexes would limit income for developers, Couch said. That, in turn, would require developers to eliminate enhancements to buildings that would make them more attractive.

“Everyone wants nice things on buildings here,” Couch said, “but they don’t want to give us the revenue with which to pay for the nice things.”

The suitability of land to handle sewage should determine the number of units, according to the developer.

“If you assume that you have the septic capacity for a three-bedroom unit or four three-bedroom units, which would be 12 bedrooms, why then would we limit the income box to eight?” he asked.

Couch added that building under those limitations would fuel those who oppose his plans to develop his roughly 1,000 acres in Summerfield.

“So we have to take all the nice things off the buildings and go to an ugly building,” he said. “So everyone continues to throw arrows into our backs and say, ‘No multifamily. We can’t have that because it’s ugly.’”

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