Duplexes, which once were downzoned right and left as neighborhoods sought to go back to single-family, won some victories at the Planning Commission on Monday afternoon.
The panel went along with a city request to allow three duplexes on Milne Street that had lost their R-2 status to resume life as duplexes.
Donna Williams, director of city economic and community development, said the units are part of a new city program that will offer incentives up to $20,000 for those willing to buy a duplex and live on one side while renting out the other.
She said since a 2004 duplex downzoning that many of those units had long been vacant. Not often is a duplex converted to a single-family home, she said.
A longtime resident said the earlier downzoning had been welcomed, saying long-established residents had continual problems with renters in the units.
Bryan Schultz, of the Regional Planning Agency staff, said the staff had always recognized that some of the downzoned duplexes in certain neighborhoods might be allowed to resume being duplexes under certain conditions.
The commission recommended approval for the city's request.
In another case, Oscar Reyes said he had bought a duplex at 1604 Arlington Avenue and already put on a new roof, put in new windows and did tree work. He said he might live in one side, but was not sure.
Ken Smith, president of the Avondale Neighborhood Association, spoke against the rezoning, saying there had been a long effort to move away from rentals.
City Councilwoman Demetrus Coonrod had a similar stance.
However, Jason Farmer made a motion to approve, citing a lack of affordable housing and the large number of vacant duplexes.
Ethan Collier, Planning Commission chairman, said, "It's crazy to me we can fill up a room with people opposed to renters. It's incredibly difficult and very expensive to become a homeowner right now."
The application was recommended for approval, though Mr. Reyes was advised he needed to meet with the neighborhood and Councilwoman Coonrod before the case gets to City Council.