Is the townhouse ban starting to bite?

The Solution(s)

Several cities in the United States have completely removed single family zoning to ease housing affordability and dismantle a system that has roots in segregation.

Even if Brisbane doesn't take as dramatic a step at this, we ought to review our zoning. For example, Brisbane has several instances of low density zoning next to train stations. If we want to encourage people to ditch the private car in favour of mass transit, we should be ensuring its feasible to as many people as possible.

We also need a housing strategy to look for new ways to supply missing middle housing. YIMBY Qld would like to see a housing strategy that includes the following, at a minimum.

• Smaller lot sizes in low density residential zones and emerging community areas. Reducing the standard minimum lot size from 400m2 to 300m2 would bring Brisbane in line with other South East Queensland council areas.
• If not in all areas, then increase the scope of 300m2 lots introduced in limited circumstances in City Plan 2014. Having been tried, tested, and found to be working well, we should now expand more widely.
• Duplexes in all residential areas as accepted development, particularly on corners, or preferably triplexes on corners.
• Form based codes, rather than our current emphasis on land use and number of households occupying a dwelling.
• More flexibility for tiny houses and secondary dwellings (beyond your granny).
• More mixed use zoning to allow for activity and innovation in our suburbs.
• Appropriate upzoning to at least low medium density residential (LMDR) around parks and public transport stops, and higher around centres.
• No more downzoning in well located areas, as recently happened in Coorparoo.

And of course, continuing community conversation around neighbourhood planning is important. YIMBY Qld is all about getting to 'Yes'. Instead of blanket banning townhouses, it would have been great to have a discussion around what people didn't like about them. Was it the design? The number? The scale? We could have reached a solution that maintained the character of our low density suburbs while supplying the diversity of housing that is so important.