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Council introduces zoning amendments to permit sidewalk and outdoor cafes, add commercial design standards
Summary
Council heard a planning administrator presentation and introduced ordinance 873 to amend RRC zoning: definitions for sidewalk/outdoor cafes, ground-floor transparency and parking incentives for bicycle and EV charging.
The City Council on Aug. 11 introduced (first reading) zoning ordinance amendments recommended by the planning commission to support the Michigan Redevelopment Ready Communities process. The amendments add definitions and standards for sidewalk cafés (in the downtown C-2 district) and outdoor cafés (permitted in commercial districts), establish commercial building standards such as ground-floor transparency and front-facing doorways, and offer off-street parking reductions for bicycle parking, on-street parking options and electric-vehicle charging infrastructure.
Bob Holly, planning administrator, said the changes implement best practices tied to Redevelopment Ready Communities certification, aim to make the downtown more inviting and provide incentives for developers to add bicycle parking and EV charging. Sidewalk cafés in the public right-of-way will require city approval and, where applicable, MDOT permission for state right-of-way. The planning commission voted 8–0 to recommend approval after a public hearing on July 20.
Council introduced Ordinance 873 for further consideration and public review; the measure will return for a second reading and formal adoption at a future meeting.
