The Planning and Zoning Commission wants more information before deciding whether to initiate ordinance amendments allowing “Gemini” or duplex housing to be converted to a townhouse designation.

At its May 9 meeting the commission responded to a request from resident Joshua Davis, who previously stated that most Gemini or duplex homes cannot be financed through FHA, making them difficult to sell.

In a letter to town Senior Planner Bob Rodgers, Davis said, “I am hoping to work together with you to help convert Gemini homes into townhouses.

“This will allow owners of Gemini homes to refinance and or sell their properties within the new guidelines that are in place. Currently our hands are tied.”

Davis’ letter cites a mortgage company as telling him that “the Gemini homes, also known as condos, are difficult for financing for owners because they do not meet typical condo standards with an HOA.”

Commissioner Richard Turner, who was formerly the town’s zoning administrator, called the proposal interesting, but said it poses “all kinds of challenges.”

“This is more complex than simply revising the ordinance,” Turner said. “The town has a PAD (planned area development) process that may work on an ‘as applied for’ basis.”

Commission Chairman Lloyd Pew said he had converted many duplex units into condos.

“It is not simply a change of terms,” Pew said. “I’m willing to initiate a study to see what can be done.”

Pew said there may also be physical constraints to a change and cited differences in firewall requirements between condos and townhouses as a major obstacle.

He noted that while condos require a one-hour firewall between units, townhouses require the equivalent of a two-hour barrier between units.

Also, townhouses cannot separate units on top of one another. While a townhouse can be more than one story, it has to be all the same unit.

“I think this may provide an opportunity for a workshop,” Turner said. “Can we get the people together so we can discuss the different aspects?”

Staff was asked to make contact with various interested parties to see if a workshop could be put together to discuss the issue.