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On Tuesday, the LaGrange City Council voted to move forward with a Board of Planning and Zoning Appeals recommendation on a proposed text amendment to allow Townhomes to have front-loading garages but denied a similar request to allow vinyl siding on new construction.

In August, representatives from developer Smith Douglas Homes requested that the council consider amending the city’s Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to allow front-loading garages and vinyl siding on a potential townhome development. The developer initially requested a variance to allow for both, but City Planner Mark Kostial explained that the city only allows variances for dimensional requirements.

At the time, the developer said removing the restrictions would make the homes more affordable.

During the morning work session, Councilwoman Darby Pippen confirmed that rear-loading garage requirements could cause homes to be more expensive but questioned whether vinyl is actually cheaper for developers.

Pippin suggested that the initial installation costs of vinyl siding are similar to other materials, but the major costs come afterward with upkeep and having to paint.

“I think that there’s a misconception that if we allow vinyl siding, that every single builder and every single house that’s going to be constructed is going to be done in vinyl, and that’s just not the case,” Pippin said. “It’s just not the case. It wasn’t the case when it was allowed. It’s not going to be the case if it is.”

Pippen explained that rear-loading garages, on the other hand, can significantly increase developer costs due to developers having to create additional roadways for rear entrances. Removing the requirement would also potentially allow for more green space in backyards.

Ultimately, the council voted to go with the planning board’s recommendation to deny the vinyl siding request but did call for a public hearing to hear comments on the front-loading garage request.

A public hearing will be held on Nov. 21 to hear comments from the public on amending the UDO to allow townhomes to have front-loading garages.