GREEN COVE SPRINGS — The city council took the first step in amending city codes to encourage affordable housing within its Comprehensive Plan Policy and seek fair housing grants.

The proposed changes, which passed 4-1 on their first reading Tuesday, would allow for Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs) — also known as mother-in-law suites or garage apartments — or a secondary dwelling on a property with an existing house. The ADU must be 50% smaller than an existing house on the property, and the primary dwelling must qualify for homestead exemption.

The amended code would also allow for smaller houses on smaller properties and grant exemptions to city rules that require garage doors to be closed.

Operation Lifeline and Habitat for Humanity representatives approached the council to support amending the city code.

“We've been working on affordable housing right here in Green Cove Springs,” said Operations Lifeline Executive Director Erick Saks.

“From our perspective, one of the unique things that we see here in Green Cove Springs is the lot sizes and a lot of shapes, which makes it a little bit difficult when we're working on some of these, and we're trying to build houses for the people, doing it on these irregular shapes and sizes makes it difficult. Once you knock them down, you will never be able to return a house with the standards as they are.

“When you're talking about housing, people opt for larger houses because that's what people want. But when we're looking at affordability, we can't go there. So, the houses we will build are what you need rather than what you may want.”

Council member Ed Gaw voted against the change.