The Bloomington Plan Commission will hear the latest draft of the Unified Development Ordinance at a public meeting on Monday. The UDO will codify the language that will guide planning and construction in the city for years to come.
City leaders say the more than 400-page document reflects input from the community since it published the last draft earlier this year. The city says in a press release the latest draft is intended to “create new opportunities for affordable housing, promote environmental sustainability, and make the development process more effective, efficient, predictable, and user-friendly.”
But some residents worry the document is too aggressive in some of its approaches to increase affordable housing and raise density in some of Bloomington’s old core neighborhoods. The plan would allow more duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes in those areas, including in Bryan Park and the Near West Side neighborhoods.
City Council member Chris Sturbaum worries that allowing multi-family units in those neighborhoods will bring in more student-occupied rentals. He says that could raise prices and make it harder for families to move into those areas.
Director of Transportation and Planning Terri Porter says more multi-family housing is part of a wide-reaching approach to increase density and lower housing costs in the city. Data from the Indiana Association of Realtors says the median home price in Bloomington last month was more than $222,000. That’s up more than five percent from last July.
The UDO meeting will take place inside City Council Chambers at City Hall on Monday at 5:30pm. Two more meeting will follow on Aug. 29 and Sept. 5.
