Tiny houses, whose popularity among minimalists has grown due to a HGTV television show, are being considered in Brown County.
The Brown County Area Planning Commission in Nashville has been studying the issue since last June.
It took seven months before plan commission members were willing to move the concept forward — and another two months before a draft ordinance emerged in March, commission director Chris Ritzmann said.
While Brown County planning commission members will consider lowering the current minimum requirement for a dwelling from 600 square feet to 240 square feet, that would only be for areas off county roads zoned as forest reserve, Ritzmann said.
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The lowest minimum for any place else they are willing to consider is 500 square feet, down from the current 600, she said.
In addition, zoning officials in Nashville want tiny houses to have a foundation. If they are pulled from place to place by a trailer, they will be treated as recreational vehicles, Ritzmann said.
It’s still important that any home, no matter how small, be inspected and comply with state codes, Brown County plan commission members said. Minimum state codes are based on room sizes, not total square footage of a home, Ritzmann said.
A Southport man and his girlfriend hope to complete construction of a tiny home this spring in Columbus.
Tyler Houchin, 32, is assembling a 270-square-foot home outside a friend’s home off Westenedge Drive on the north side of Columbus. He expects to complete the home with a maximum investment of $25,000.
Houchin and his 28-year-old girlfriend, Stephanie Pigneri, are not looking to locate in Columbus — at least not for now. However, they have been been attending zoning discussions in Brown County.
Since their home is being built on wheels to be pulled like a trailer, its mobility gives the couple options.
What about Columbus?
No one has approached the Columbus-Bartholomew County Planning Department about locating a tiny house in the county, planning director Jeff Bergman said.
Internally, some discussion has occurred among the department’s staff regarding homes with less than 500 square feet of space, he said.
Although Bartholomew County currently requires has a minimum 1,000-square-foot housing standard, advocates of the small homes in other communities have made valid points in areas such as energy efficiency and sustainability, Bergman said.
With its rustic settings, tourism industry, seasonal occupancy and reputation for log cabins, having tiny houses in the Nashville area might make sense, he said.
“But what Brown County has is different from what we have,” Bergman said.
Official consideration of tiny houses in Bartholomew County would begin with an application — and that has yet to occur.
“We need to know there is an interest before regulatory steps can be taken,’ Bergman said.
Based on previous experiences, Bergman said he is pretty sure what the first concern of neighbors will be if tiny houses are proposed in the Columbus area.
“There will have to be an extensive discussion on whether there will be negative impacts for surrounding properties,” Bergman said.
Bergman said other anticipated questions would include:
Will the home be permanent?
Does it need a foundation?
Will it be a temporary accessory dwelling or office?
Will occupancy be seasonal?
What about sewage and utilities?
Should it be treated as a mobile home or recreational vehicle?
Is a whole new set of regulations required?
Is the petitioner aware of potential problems, including quick devaluation and costly repairs?
Is the location appropriate?
Is any place in Bartholomew County appropriate?
On top of that, additional discussions will be needed about shrinking minimum building lot sizes to accommodate the small homes, the planning director said.
Even if the planning commission in Nashville approves reducing the minimum square footage, more steps would be required for changes to become effective.
Public hearings would have to be conducted, and the Brown County Commissioners would need to approve any such changes, Ritzmann said.
Those same hurdles would also be required in Bartholomew County, Bergman said.
Houchin’s motivations are simple.
“We just want a sustainable life without putting ourselves too far in debt,” Houchin said. “We don’t know where we will be in five or 10 years. But for now, we just don’t have the big heating and cooling expenses that come with big houses.”
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There are pros and cons regarding the so-called tiny houses movement.
Advocates point to the ability to reduce debt, have more time for travel and other activities, and environmental concerns.
Opponents say the small homes depreciate quickly in value, come with expensive long-term maintenance costs, don’t account for changing needs and result in home furnishings and carpeting wearing out quickly.
Sources: New York Times, The Tiny Life website
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