The Fountain City Council voted 7-0 on first reading to approve Ordinance 18-14, which amends Title 17 of the Fountain Municipal Code to permit factory-built nonresidential structures in planned industrial zone districts subject to new performance and design standards.

Christy Martinez of the City of Fountain Planning Department described the proposed changes as focusing on appearance rather than the location of construction. “The item before you is a proposed amendment to the Fountain Municipal Code title 17, which, pertains to zoning more specifically to factory built non residential structures, within the planned industrial zone district,” Martinez said. She said the amendment would require horizontal articulation, changes in roof forms and textures on at least 50% of a façade to avoid long blank walls and would add standards to enhance customer entrances and screen mechanical equipment.

The draft ordinance would allow factory-built structures only in properties zoned Planned Industrial (shown in the presentation’s map along I-25 frontage and around Exit 132) and ties eligibility to the age of the unit: structures must have been constructed no more than 10 years prior to the ordinance adoption (Martinez said that would equate to 2015 or newer if the ordinance is adopted as presented). Martinez said the changes are intended to permit modern modular construction while addressing aesthetic concerns.

Council members asked whether the 10-year cutoff refers to adoption of the amendment and whether private or charter schools and religious organizations using temporary units would be affected. Martinez clarified the age cutoff is tied to adoption of the ordinance and noted the city already has a separate temporary-use permitting process for some religious institutions that brings premanufactured units on site for limited periods (staff said they believed that permit term is one to two years but did not provide an exact code citation during the meeting).

Public commenter Connie Weisenhunt asked whether churches using such units would be required to update older-looking buildings; Martinez said the proposed amendment targets permanent, nonresidential uses in the industrial zone, not temporary permits used by congregations. Martinez also noted the city is “dipping our toe in the water” and could tighten or change the architectural requirements in future amendments.

Martinez and councilmembers also noted that state legislation may limit how municipalities treat manufactured housing in residential zones; the staff recommendation was to confine the change to planned industrial districts and focus on design standards rather than origin of construction.

Council member Duncan moved to approve Ordinance 18-14 on first reading; Council member Hinton seconded. The motion passed 7-0. As a first-reading approval, the ordinance may be amended or subject to additional hearings before final adoption.