BLAND — Bland Board of Aldermen approved an amendment to the city’s zoning ordinance during its July 13 meeting, allowing smaller permanent single-family homes and duplexes in residential zoning districts while establishing minimum construction standards for future development.

The amendment is intended to expand housing opportunities while maintaining neighborhood standards.

According to the ordinance, its purpose is “to expand the availability of safe, high-quality, and attainable housing by permitting small permanent single-family homes and duplex dwellings within residential zones while preserving neighborhood character and ensuring compliance with all applicable city ordinances.”

Before reading the ordinance, board members noted the measure was an amendment to the city’s existing zoning regulations rather than a new ordinance.

During the reading, officials identified and corrected a drafting error in the applicability section.

Mayor Merrilee Spurgeon discovered language stating the homes were “not permitted only within residential zoning districts.”

“There’s a mistake right there,” Spurgeon said. “It says they’re not, but it means they are. So that ‘not’ needs to be took out.”

With the correction, the ordinance specifies that the housing types are permitted only in residential zoning districts and remain prohibited in commercial and industrial districts unless authorized through a future amendment.

Under the ordinance, permanent single-family homes must contain at least 600 square feet of finished living space, include at least one bedroom and one bathroom, be constructed on a permanent foundation or basement, connect to the city’s public water and sanitary sewer systems and comply with all applicable zoning, building, fire and property maintenance codes.

The ordinance specifically excludes manufactured homes, mobile homes, recreational vehicles, park model units and homes built on wheels.

The amendment also establishes standards for duplex construction. Duplexes must contain two dwelling units within a single principal building, provide at least two bedrooms per unit, include a minimum of 1,200 square feet of finished living area, be constructed on a permanent foundation, connect to city water and sewer services, provide at least one off-street parking space for each unit and comply with all applicable city ordinances.

Following the reading, board members said they believed the ordinance addressed concerns raised during previous discussions.

The board approved the amendment with a 4-0 vote.

Later in the meeting, aldermen discussed how the newly approved ordinance would apply to a proposed apartment conversion owned by Harold Buddemeyer. Spurgeon said Buddemeyer believed the building contained approximately 720 square feet. She then asked whether the city’s code enforcement officer could verify the measurements.

Board members agreed the ordinance’s minimum requirement applies to finished living space, not simply the building’s exterior dimensions, and discussed having the code enforcement officer measure the structure before a building permit is issued for that project.

Spurgeon agreed the city should verify the measurements before moving forward with the permit.