City officials have begun the process to change the zoning of 20 acres on south Colville Avenue as Habitat for Humanity’s plan to place housing on the site.

Habitat for Humanity officials have asked the city to change the zoning on the west side of Colville Avenue south of H Street from single-family to multi-family residential.

Director of Community Services Roger Krieger said state law allows the city to change the zoning map only once per year.

Planning Commission Chair Dan Berg wondered if the request would make the city “top heavy” with multi-family zoning tracts.

Krieger said it is not practical to change other property from multi-family to single-family residential zoning. The city could remove the multi-family designation to some of the commercial diversified zoning to reduce the designation.

The Deer Park Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the Habitat for Humanity request in January. The Deer Park City Council is expected to take up the issue in February.