Student housing may become a zoning district.
The Planning Commission discussed the possibility of creating a new zoning district, one specifically for purpose-built student housing, at their work session Tuesday, Oct. 20.
Forrest Cotten, director of planning for the City of Auburn, led off the discussion with a definition of the phrase private dormitory, which is a housing complex not run by the institution intended to be used by students.
Cotten compared Auburn to Columbia, South Carolina, location of the University of South Carolina, though he said Columbia is slightly larger than Auburn. Private dormitory is a term used to describe student housing in Columbia.
"It is its own use, separate and apart from any other type of multifamily development," Cotten said. "What this gives us the prospect of doing is recognizing some of the nuances and special attributes of this kind of residential use."
Housing designed for students is different than typical apartments, according to Cotten. He said the rooms and living areas are smaller, allowing for more bedrooms per unit and more units per complex.
Commissioners raised questions about how a building would be defined as for students, because students and non-students live alongside each other throughout the city. Cotten said the bedroom count would be what they mainly consider when looking at different zoning.
Cotten said there are special standards in Columbia that apply to student housing, such as distance requirements and noise regulations. Currently, the maximum number of bedrooms per acre in Columbia is 150, while Auburn's newest development has 270 beds per acre.
Charles Pick, planning commissioner, said he does not think every building needs retail, specially buildings that face smaller streets.
Megan McGowen, deputy economic director for the city of Auburn, said it is important to be sure student housing and the ground floor commercial space is viable. She said changing density could cause change in the Urban Core zoning district.
"You start changing densities, you may not see redevelopment of buildings for a while until the market resets itself," McGowen said.
She said the commission would have to take each development on a case-by-case basis.
"We don't want to require somebody to create nonviable space," McGowen said.
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