Hundreds of residents of an upscale community in Wichita, Kansas have signed a petition being opposed to the zoning of 15 acres adjacent to theirs which will contain 90 “tiny homes” which range in price from $75,000 to $100,000.
Residents are concerned about their properly values falling due to the addition of the development, and they are upset that the local zoning laws didn’t require the developers to notify them or require a hearing about what is being built due to the tiny homes already technically fitting the zoning specifications for the area.
Many of the residents are worried about what would happen if the development becomes a “failed concept” with it turning into cheap rental homes that would damage their property values.
The owners of the “MicroMansions” development has said that the neighborhood would have a homeowners association and covenants though.
The controversy has caused the Wichita County Commission to approve some building code changes related to tiny homes.
Editors Note: (updated March 8, 2020)—
I think the neighborhood would work fine being alongside the other ones as long as the homeowners association and covenants that the developers mentioned are very strict about the exterior appearances of the houses and yards.
It would be important for the owners of the houses in the new neighborhood to be required to sign agreements saying that they would not put anything in their yards such as above ground pools or swing sets, otherwise the neighborhood would take on an unsightly appearance that would be unfair to the residents of the original adjacent neighborhoods. Perhaps the neighborhood could also have uniform natural landscaping throughout the development.
I don’t think such rules are important for all neighborhoods though of course, but I think it would work best in that case.