Change in lot size would allow tiny home development in Lawton

A proposal to allow smaller lot sizes may make redevelopment more likely in some of Lawton’s older neighborhoods.

The City Planning Commission has recommended a change in city planning and zoning ordinances that would allow single-family residential structures to be built on lots that are 25 feet wide, as long as those lots were established before Nov. 10, 1964. The proposal now goes to the City Council for consideration, and would into effect in 30 days with council approval.

City Planner Christine James said that change would be beneficial to the Lawton Heights and Lawton View additions in south Lawton, where there are a number of vacant lots defined as legal non-conforming (meaning they are legal because they existed before zoning regulations), including those that are only 25 feet wide. Existing code specifies residential lots must be at least 35 feet wide, as long as it abuts a street with at least 50 feet of right of way, before they are considered a buildable lot.

“There probably are a couple of thousand lots,” James said, of those smaller than 35 feet wide.

Without the change in city code, structures cannot be built on such lots unless more than one exists at one site, so they can be combined to make a lot wider than 25 feet.

The issue strikes a chord with city officials, who have been looking at ways to fill in empty lots in some of Lawton’s lower-income neighborhoods after deteriorating structures have been removed. Some options being discussed have included “tiny homes,” houses that are smaller than the normal residences and, thus, are less costly to build and buy while helping to bring new life to some neighborhoods.

Existing code already has hampered development. City planners said one developer purchased 60 lots from Lawton Urban Renewal Authority in December 2022 and had begun development plans in the Lawton View Addition. But, the developer needed variances from the required lot size for 10 sites in that addition so it could build cottage-style houses on 25-foot lots, but those variances were denied.

That problem would be resolved with the amended ordinance, which would allow structures and parking spaces to be built on lots/parcels that have a frontage of less than 35 feet but not less than 25 feet, as long as that lot was platted prior to Nov. 10, 1964.