Tiny houses may be too big for some Tucson neighborhoods

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TUCSON, Arizona (KOLD News 13) – Intent is good, but sometimes good intentions lead to unintended consequences. And the new regulation that allows tiny houses can be an example of this.

Affordable housing is scarce in Tucson, so allowing homeowners to have a smaller unit on a piece of land for a caregiver, family member, or for a little extra income is probably a good idea.

But when it comes to higher education, this good idea becomes a problem.

These new tiny houses around the University of Arizona are likely to be more student homes being built by speculators and developers outside of the state.

Councilor Steve Kozachik, who heads this area, wants these neighborhoods to shrink to a maximum of 650 square feet, not the universal 1,000 that the city has hit.

“You can’t do a uniform rezoning and expect it to have the same impact in areas around the campus as, for example, on the Far East side, where they live on an acre property,” said Kozachik.

In recent years, confusing zoning laws in some Tucson neighborhoods around the university have lost space for mini-dorms, and residents fear history repeats itself.

“If we go in and change the zoning rules and risk their quality of life, especially on these small lots around campus, it is betraying our trust as a city,” Kozachik said.

In order not to betray the people around the university, the city may be rethinking the size of the outbuildings around UArizona to keep its promise of affordable housing but to limit speculative appeal.

The city may consider downsizing in some neighborhoods over the next few months.

Copyright 2021 KOLD News 13. All rights reserved.

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