Goddard council schedules July 6 vote on duplex rules
goddard city council is scheduled to vote July 6 on proposed duplex regulations after tabling an earlier vote in May. The changes would add a storm shelter, space and a rough-in for a water softener, plus language encouraging duplexes on curved portions of roads when possible.
Craig Crossette said the council tabled the May 18 vote after he received last-minute correspondence from WABA. He said it was prudent to talk to the home builders trade group before approving any changes, and the council now has a date to act on the revised language.
July 6 vote in Goddard
Crossette, the Goddard city manager, said, "I don't want anyone to get the impression that we're having cold feet on the spirit of the law as it is, but more so we think it is important to have a lengthier conversation with (WABA) and get some of their feedback" when he explained why the May 18 vote was tabled. The council had planned to vote on new duplex regulations on that date before postponing the decision.
The additions Crossette listed would affect what developers must include when duplexes are built in Goddard. The storm shelter requirement, the space and rough-in for a water softener, and the curved-road language all appear in the proposed changes he described on June 12.
Maize watching Goddard
Maize City Manager Nick Gregory said he is watching the Goddard proposal carefully. He said, "I'm observing carefully what's going to happen with Goddard's (proposed regulations)" and added that Maize may do something sooner rather than later, probably alongside updates to its comprehensive plan.
Gregory also said, "We've had multiple discussions with different communities and the challenges that are arising with the sheer amount of duplexes coming through," before adding, "You look at a lot of our new neighborhoods, they're great. They're great to have the duplexes. But we'd like to see some variety. … We may look at something very similar to what Goddard is proposing."
Derby and Maize rules
Derby recently approved regulations governing everything from the density to design of future duplex developments. Maize had about 1,300 home sites that were ready for development in an earlier interview, and builders there had pulled permits this year for 31 single-family homes, 54 twin homes, 9 duplexes and 12 multifamily units.
That mix is part of why nearby cities are watching Goddard closely. Builders and city leaders are weighing whether similar duplex rules should shape future development before more permits are issued and before broader planning updates are set in place.
For Goddard, the July 6 vote now becomes the point where the council either adopts the added standards or keeps working through them with the builders group that raised concerns in May.
