Fairfield council approves changes to building requirements

FAIRFIELD - The Fairfield City Council passed the third and final reading of an ordinance to spur housing development on the west side of town.

The area consists of South 17th Street and the surrounding blocks and is known officially as the 'General and Manufactured Home Residence District,” and previously known as the West End Parsons College Addition. The ordinance passed by the council reduces the square footage requirements for houses in that district to allow smaller homes, lowering the requirement from 750 square feet to 720 square feet. The ordinance allows the construction of duplexes on every property, and allows corner lot owners to count one of their adjacent streets as a 'side street” for the purposes of setback requirements from the edge of the property line.

The council also passed the first reading of an ordinance to create a mixed-use zoning area in 'New Chicago” on North Fourth Street near Grimes Avenue and the surrounding area. This will allow property owners in that area to building either residential or commercial properties. In particular, this will allow business owners to put residences on the first floor. It also will allow property owners to house both offices and apartments in a single building.

The council passed the first reading of an ordinance to increase the remuneration for City Council members and the mayor $400 per year, which would mean council members would earn $2,400 per year, and the mayor would earn $32,400 per year. Fairfield City Administrator Aaron Kooiker said neither of their salaries had been increased since 2002.

Kooiker said the council members are working on the budget, and it appears that the city will ask for a raise in the general fund tax levy of 4 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation, going to $15.67. He said he expects the size of the budget to increase 2.3 percent from last year.

The public hearing on the budget will be at the council's first meeting in March, March 8.