The Naperville City Council voted 7-1 Tuesday night to require some accessibility standards in all new homes.
The standards include reinforced walls in bathrooms to allow handrails, slightly wider first-floor interior doors, and electrical outlets and light switches that are reachable by someone in a wheelchair.
Another more controversial provision, requiring one step-free entrance to a house, will be discussed by the council at a later meeting.
Richard Furstenau, a home builder, cast the lone no vote.
Council member Sam Macrane said such changes will become even more important as Baby Boomers begin to retire. “This is a very good thing not just for Naperville, but for humanity,” Macrane said.
Some home builders urged the council to vote no because of concerns about adding to the cost of new homes.
“It takes away freedom of choice for 99 percent of my home buyers,” said Tom Bart, a Naperville builder.
