(La Porte, IN) - The door has opened for more new housing construction in La Porte. 

On Monday night, the city council approved a zoning change to allow townhomes to be part of the residential development.  Over 100 units are planned in the area of Monroe Street and Boyd Boulevard with nearly half of those planned to be townhomes.

Despite the construction of several new housing developments in recent years, City Councilman Drew Buchanan said the need is still there.

“Several housing studies and stuff have noted that we’re lacking in this type of development,” Buchanan said.

The developer has agreed to preserve what’s now a wooded area as much as possible in response to concerns from existing residents in that area, said Bert Cook, Executive Director of the La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership.

“It’s an incredibly unique parcel because of the fact that it has some great trees and the aesthetic that creates,” Cook said.

The city council’s decision was unanimous.