FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) — After months of deliberation, Fort Wayne City Council has passed an ordinance that makes it easier for residents to build Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). City Council voted in favor of the ordinance by a 7-2 measure with councilmen Tom Freistroffer (at-large) and Nath an Hartman (3rd District) voting against the measure. "The people that live around that particular unit, they want a single family residential neighborhood. And you know, the problems might be minimal, but they will surface over the years," Freistroffer said. ADUs are classified as a second living space that feature separate cooking, sleeping and bathroom facilities from the primary building on a property. The ordinance, which has been rewritten several times, reduced the red tape needed to build one. "The technical is changing it from a use variance to a special use, simply stated it's just a little less red tape for those who want to get an ADU," said 4th District Councilman Myers. "You no longer need an attorney to prove the fact that you have to have an ADU. It's basically considered a legitimate need." To build one, you will still need to go through the proper steps, including a $500 fee and a public hearing. The change did raise concerns originally that neighborhoods would have to put up with small dwelling structures popping up on every block. City Council, however, took careful measures to make sure the ordinance puts the power to not have ADUs in the hands of the neighborhoods. "It doesn't override the neighborhood association," Myers said. "The process of how [the Plan Commission goes] about it will better respect and defer to the neighborhood association. That is the process that changed between February and now. The ordinance has changed greatly since a fiery November 2024 meeting where WANE 15 first covered opposition to ADUs. At that meeting, Karen Richards, a member of the Plan Commission, claimed "this is the worst possible thing we can do." While opposition continued Tuesday, Freistroffer's "no" vote came with gratitude over the changes made. "I do like the fact that the neighborhood association presidents do have to approve of this," Freistroffer said. Once the process gets started, neighborhoods cannot stop an ADU from being built, but they can enact preventative rules that do not allow the process to even begin. You can read the ordinance in full on the city's website. ...read more read less