The Benton Harbor Planning Commission is preparing to update the city zoning ordinance to encourage the development of more housing.
At a meeting this week, planners heard a presentation from a Brad Misner of McKenna, a development consulting firm. He said some goals of the new ordinance will be to accurately reflect the master plan, to be easy to understand, and to promote a variety of housing developments. Misner said that can be accomplished with some simple changes.
“Consideration of smaller lots and reduced setbacks to encourage residential uses throughout the city,” Misner said. “As we all know, there are quite a few smaller lots throughout the city, so I think that’s something that needs to be addressed very specifically.”
Misner said allowing for mixed uses could also lead to new housing.
“Zoning provisions to allow for the potential to create reduced standards such as setbacks, lot coverage, other things that would help promote housing or other uses on smaller lots.”
Other goals include ensuring developments have adequate parking without devoting too much space to that use, and preserving lakefront areas.
Misner said he’ll be back before the planning commission with a final zoning ordinance draft, probably in April. From there, public notice would be posted and then the document could go to the full city commission.
