Planning commission advances zoning amendments on outdoor cafes, ground-floor housing and facade standards

The Coldwater Planning Commission voted to schedule a public hearing on a set of proposed zoning ordinance amendments that would add definitions and new uses for outdoor and sidewalk cafes, allow accessory residential units on the ground floor in some commercial districts (with exclusions), create voluntary parking-reduction options and set minimum facade transparency for new or substantially reconstructed commercial buildings.

The package, presented by staff planner Robert, would add definitions for “sidewalk cafe” and “outdoor cafe,” designate where each is permitted by district, and add design and setback standards for sidewalk cafes. It also would create a new section (4.23) on outdoor dining, allow accessory residential uses in the C-2 district (with an explicit exclusion along US‑12 and certain other streets during early drafts), add optional parking…