The Austin City Council will hear a new proposal Thursday that would require all new single-family homes and duplexes to have a wheelchair ramp or no step entrance. The proposal is intended to make homes more accessible to the disabled and elderly. 

Mayor Pro-Tem Betty Dunkerley wants to begin looking at issues she believes will make sense for the future of Austin.

“We want our community to be accessible to folks in our community who are disabled and who are aging, like I am, who are going to need those accessibility issues at some point very soon,” she said.

The council member acknowledges not all the issues are popular and doesn’t want to do anything that puts a burden on builders or home buyers.   She said she wants to listen to everyone.

“Let's sit down work on those issues and work from a point where the ones those make sense,” said Dunkerley. 

But some home owners don’t think this is an issue the city should be taking up. Jillian Butt is building a new home in the Mueller Development.  She isn’t happy about the proposed ordinance.

“I'm buying a home and I don't want to be forced to have some of those things in that home that I wouldn't want to have in when it's mine I'm purchasing it,” Butt said.

Neither is homeowner David Martin, who would rather see the market make the decision.

“I don't feel the City Council should be making the decision for us,” said Martin.

Dunkerley hopes by getting people talking about the issue, they’ll find a solution.