Because of voiced interest to build smaller garden homes in the Crowne Ridge subdivision, located in Ward 2, residents have requested that the city council consider enforcing new zoning laws that would place restrictions on home and lot sizes.

Currently, the subdivision has R-50 zoning, which is minimal zoning that allows almost anything to be built on lots in the neighborhood, Ward 2 representative Susan Keith said.

After voicing their concerns, subdivision residents and Speir Land Company, who owns the land in Crowne Ridge, settled on increasing the zoning to R-60.

“It will place restrictions of the size of the homes, which currently there are no restrictions,” Keith said. “Somebody could buy a lot and put a shed home in there right now if they wanted to. The new zoning will set minimum square footage requirements and the homes will be have to be up to certain standards.”

Because Crowne Ridge is a neighborhood with larger homes, Keith said residents want to maintain a certain standard.

“People who live in Crowne Ridge live in Crowne Ridge because they want to live in a nice neighborhood, they have chosen to live in that neighborhood,” she said. “They want to maintain a nice standard of living.”

If the new zoning restriction passes, the garden homes that Speir Land Company wants to build would have to have a minimum square footage of 1,600 feet, Keith said.

“Because the homes are meant for senior citizens, they will be smaller and have smaller lots,” Keith said. “But they should abide by the new proposed zoning restrictions.”