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After months of discussion and two public readings, the LaGrange City Council has approved a change to its Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to allow front-loading, rear-loading or no garages on townhomes within the city.

The city has been kicking the idea around since March, but more serious discussions began in August when 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 vinyl siding request was quickly shot down, but the council was more amenable to the garage request as it would potentially significantly reduce the cost of the townhomes and make them more affordable.

Previously, the city only allowed rear-loading garages on townhomes within the city.

Because they do not have to have an alleyway in the back to load in the rear, it could bring some development costs down.

Mayor Jim Arrington said the change will also allow for different-looking homes.

“When you ride out into some of those developments that we’ve seen, it’s just so monotonous. You don’t know which one’s the front, which one’s the back, because it has streets on both sides of it. So this will give them an opportunity to do some different things,” Arrington said. “The front-loading varieties can have some privacy in their backyard, put a grill or do some other things.”

The change does come with some restrictions. Front-loading townhomes will be restricted to a single-vehicle garage. Townhomes that face a major thoroughfare or corridor would still be required to rear load.

There are no restrictions on the balance of each type of townhome within a development project, whether they be rear-load, front-load or have no garage.