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Brick Ordinance Would Dictate New Home Building Materials12-09-05 | News

Brick Ordinance Would Dictate New Home Building Materials

Columbia, Illinois wants to require brick for new homes.

The Belleville News-Democrat reports the Columbia, Illinois City Council has approved 8-1 to require 50 percent of new houses in a subdivision to have brick on three sides, 30 percent to have brick on the face and the other 20 percent can have any other material. Columbia, Illinois is one of the fastest growing suburbs in the metropolitan St. Louis area, located 12 miles from downtown St. Louis.

Alderman Jeffrey Huch went on record to show his opposition to the ordinance, as the proposed brick ordinance was sent to the city attorney to be put in its final draft form. At the city council meeting, Huch was reported objecting to dictating the aesthetics of homes, and said the community already show diversity in new home materials.

The ordinance, planning and zoning committee still needs another look at the draft before it goes to the city zoning board of appeals for a public hearing and vote, and then back to the city council for a final vote.