EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — El Paso City Council is set to vote next week on changes to the City’s zoning code, under a proposal called Title 20, that could reshape neighborhoods.
The proposal focuses on three main changes:
- Accessory dwelling units (ADUs): Larger backyard “casitas” would be allowed, and property owners would no longer be required to live on site.
- Parking requirements: Minimum parking requirements would be removed in parts of Downtown, Uptown and surrounding neighborhoods, letting property owners decide how much parking to provide.
- Zoning updates: Adjustments to better fit current housing styles.
Alex Hoffman, the assistant director of capital planning for the City of El Paso, said the goal is to boost residential development.
“For a downtown to be successful, the areas that surround it also have to be successful,” Hoffman said. “The primary way that we were looking at encouraging growth and development was by increasing the number of housing units in the study area. And so these code amendments are really with that in mind.”
City officials say the changes would still be subject to enforcement rules and are designed to give property owners more flexibility.
But some residents say the plan could worsen parking issues.
“If you redeveloped into 50 apartments, that’s 50 to 75 cars, pushed out into the surrounding neighborhood,” said Linda Troncoso, a resident in one of the impacted neighborhoods. “I want my parents to be able to park in front of my house when they come to visit me.”
Others are concerned about how the ADU changes could affect the scale and feel of established neighborhoods.
“This opens the gate to absolute unbridled equity investors coming in…tear down the properties and subdivide them,” said Martina Lorey, a longtime Uptown resident.
City Council is expected to take up the ordinance on Monday, Aug. 19. If approved, city officials say the changes would take effect immediately.
The City of El Paso will also host a public meeting on the proposal on Thursday, Aug. 14, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, where residents can share their comments.
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