Planning staff outlines zoning-code schedule, new hire and Weaverville design updates

Planning staff outlined the schedule for remaining zoning-code reviews and announced a new planning division hire at the Sept. 25 meeting.

Drew Blavani, interim planning director, said the commission will revisit Part 3 of the zoning update on Oct. 23. He proposed a longer session on Dec. 11 to review Part 2 (the most substantial section), suggesting a 2 p.m. start to allow up to eight hours if needed, and proposed Jan. 15 for Part 4. Blavani asked commissioners to review materials in advance and to submit comments to staff outside the dais to streamline meetings.

Staff also introduced Alex Banaskevich as the new planning division staff member; Banaskevich briefly greeted the commission.

Commissioners provided local updates: the Weaverville Architectural Review Committee approved a variable color palette for the Weaverville architectural district, and commissioners said a brochure and county letter will be distributed to explain the palette and its use. At a community workshop in Junction City, staff said residents expressed interest in an additional public space with river access to support events and economic activity.

Why it matters: The zoning-code schedule sets the timeline for substantial land-use changes that will feed into environmental review and future ordinance adoption. The new staff addition will assist with workload as the county progresses through code updates.

Next steps: Staff will post materials in advance of the Oct. 23 meeting for Part 3 and coordinate logistics for the extended Dec. 11 Part 2 review. The Weaverville color palette materials and outreach brochures will be circulated to the public.