West Lafayette: Petition in Opposition to UZO Amendment 114, Accessory Dwelling Units

by | Jan 3, 2025 | City Council, Development and Planning, Featured, Government, West Lafayette

The West Lafayette neighborhoods and the City of West Lafayette need your help at the upcoming City Council meeting on January 6th March 3rd. Can you spare a few minutes to write an e-mail? Sign our petition? Or, if you have more time, attend some of the community sessions (Jan. 21st and Feb. 12th) and the March 3rd City Council meeting at 6:30 when the next vote will take place.

Petition Against UZO Amendment 114, Accessory Dwelling Units

To help illustrate the community’s opposition to allowing a Accessory Dwelling Units, we have created the petition below.

We would appreciate your digital signature for support. The signed petition will be distributed at the March 3rd meeting. Please help spread the word to friends and neighbors ahead of the meeting.

Opposition to UZO Amendment 114 Accessory Dwelling Units

110 signatures

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Petition Language

A vote is to come before the West Lafayette City Council on Monday, January 6, 2025 (tabled until March 3rd, 2025), to approve an Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance. The proposed Ordinance would allow the modification or addition either to an existing residence or a separate building on the same property to add living units onto the property. The claimed purpose of the Amendment is to respond to greater housing demand in West Lafayette.

We respectfully ask our representatives on the City Council to vote against this ordinance. Some reasons we are in opposition are listed below:

  • Our city administration, New Chauncey Neighborhood Association, and other neighborhood associations have worked together for decades to achieve a better balance of rental properties in our neighborhoods and to encourage a better family-centered, community atmosphere. Passage of this ordinance will work against the efforts of literally hundreds of individuals over decades.
  • Over occupancy is often difficult to detect and the impact that this has on being able to park in close proximity to our home is still felt. Increasing rental and non-rental occupancy through this ordinance will exacerbate the existing parking issues.
  • New Chauncey neighborhood home prices (along with other neighborhoods) have recently ranged from $450,000 to $650,000 or even higher.
    • Passage of this Ordinance will make the transition of single family homes to multi-family investment properties more likely.
    • The increased prices will also make it difficult, if not impossible, for young families to move into our neighborhood and join, participate, and contribute in our community.
  • Our City is responding to the need for additional housing by allowing greater density housing on the Levee and south of Fowler Avenue. This is appropriate and will impact housing demand much more effectively than increasing density in our neighborhoods.

Accordingly, the undersigned wish to express our opposition to the passage of the proposed Ordinance and encourage all City Councilors to vote No on Ordinance 01-2025 / UZO Amendment 114.

Lafayette Rejected UZO Amendment 114

The City of Lafayette has opted out of this for various reasons. One concern was parking. The other concern is that there would be no public hearing process associated with an ADU. What is proposed would be allowed by-right if the lot meets the zoning standards. – September, 2024 APC Ordinance Committee Minutes

Definitions

Accessory Dwelling Unit

An additional dwelling unit on a lot with an existing single-family dwelling that is independent of and incidental to the principal dwelling unit. This unit is equipped with kitchen and bathroom facilities. There are three types of ADU: internal, attached, or detached from the principal dwelling. If internal, the ADU must fit within the existing footprint of the principal dwelling unit. An Internal or attached ADU may or may not have interior access to the principal dwelling; however, the accessory dwelling unit must be independently accessible via an exterior door.

January 6th, 2025 City Council Meeting Agenda and Packet

The general information is still relevant for the March 3rd City Council meeting.

City Council Meeting, March 3rd at 6:30

Monday, March 3rd, 2025
6:30pm
Margerum City Hall
222 N. Chauncey Ave.
West Lafayette, Indiana 47906

Community Meeting on Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)

The City Council created two Community Meetings to receive additional feedback and debate the ADU amendment.

January 21st, 2025, 6pm

The Bean Room
Margerum City Hall
222 N. Chauncey Ave
West Lafayette, Indiana 47906

February 12th, 2025, 6pm

[formerly at Margerum City Hall]
Wellness Center
1101 Kalberer Road
West Lafayette, Indiana 47906

City Council Meeting, January 6th at 6:30pm

The City Council voted to table the ordinance (7 Yeas and 1 Nay [At-Large Councilor Blanco]) until the March 3rd meeting so additional input could be gathered at the January 21st and February 12th Community Meetings.

Monday, January 6th, 2025
6:30pm
Margerum City Hall
222 N. Chauncey Ave.
West Lafayette, Indiana 47906