Planning Commission backs broad zoning, fee and permit changes; directs staff to draft specific code amendments

The Planning Commission on Wednesday directed staff to draft formal code amendments and fee adjustments after reviewing a 13‑item package of zoning and use‑permit recommendations intended to make it easier for small entrepreneurs to open downtown, clarify where certain uses are allowed, and to establish clearer rules for emerging land uses. The commission’s direction was reached by consensus and staff said the ordinances will be returned for formal review and a public hearing before the commission and then forwarded to the City Council.

The package covers 13 main topics, including reductions in some use permit fees for business startups and for people aged 16–21; reclassifying tattoo parlors as low‑impact body‑art services; creating a new “florist and garden shop” retail category distinct from nursery/wholesale garden supply; separate rules for pet stores and kennels; new rules for animal grooming in residential, mixed‑use and commercial zones; formal short‑term‑rental permitting and transient occupancy tax capture; tiered solar permits (rooftop vs. ground‑mounted vs. large commercial solar farms); and limits on drive‑through restaurants and smoke‑shop locations. Staff also recommended tightening commercial day‑care rules in industrial zones and adding site‑specific review for large…