Goddard’s City Council is scheduled to vote July 6 on proposed duplex regulations that could shape how future developments are built in the city, from density and design to added requirements for storm shelters and water-softener space.
The vote comes after the council tabled the measure May 18, when last-minute correspondence from the Wichita Area Builders Association prompted members to pause and talk through the changes before moving ahead. Craig Crossette said he thought it was prudent to discuss the proposal with the home builders trade group before approving any revisions.
The latest version of the regulations would add a requirement for a storm shelter, space and a rough-in for a water softener, and language encouraging duplexes to be placed on the curved portions of roads whenever possible. City staff was also looking at a few wording tweaks. Those details matter because the rules could affect not just where duplexes go, but what developers have to build into them from the start.
The builders group is not trying to derail the proposal. Tyler York said WABA’s goal is not to stop the standards from going through, but to talk about what they could mean to the cost of the developments. That cost question sits at the center of the delay, and it is why the council chose to slow the process rather than force a quick vote in May.
The issue is part of a broader response across Wichita-area suburbs to a surge in duplex development. Derby recently approved regulations covering everything from density to design for future duplex projects, and Maize is watching Goddard closely as it decides whether to adopt something similar. Maize City Manager Nick Gregory said the city wants to do something probably sooner rather than later and that it will likely line up with updates to its comprehensive plan.
Gregory said Maize may look at something very similar to what Goddard is proposing, a sign that the July 6 vote could echo beyond one council chamber. Maize already has about 1,300 home sites ready for development, and Gregory said a good chunk will be duplexes. So far this year in Maize, builders have pulled permits for 31 single-family homes, 54 twin homes, nine duplexes and 12 multifamily units.
For Goddard, the next step is straightforward: the council votes July 6. Whether members make further changes before then will show how far they are willing to push the city’s new standards, and how much weight they give builders’ warnings about cost.
