Planning commission endorses broad update to Guthrie zoning code, sends ordinance to city council

The Guthrie Planning Commission voted unanimously on March 13 to forward a comprehensive rewrite of the city’s zoning code to the City Council for introduction and adoption.

Planning staff presented a chapter-by-chapter update that the transcript identifies as an amendment to Chapter 16 (Planning and Zoning) by adoption of ordinance numbers referenced in the presentation. Staff said the rewrite incorporates new zoning districts (including Residential Estate, an amended R2 for limited multifamily and a new R3 for higher-density multifamily), a Public Facilities district, and updated allowances for accessory dwelling units, accessory commercial units (a novel provision that would allow small commercial units in some residential areas by special use permit), cottage-court development, and mixed-use options.

Other substantive changes staff described include: raising lot-coverage limits in the original townsite area to 35 percent; permitting duplexes on 7,000-square-foot lots and setting a minimum lot size in the original townsite to 3,500 square feet; placing livestock and fowl rules into the code with numerical limits; removing some minimum parking requirements and shifting parking-location expectations to the rear of buildings; clarifying standards for porches, architectural details, accessory structures, temporary uses and minor variances; and creating standards for signs, short-term rentals, medical marijuana facilities and temporary uses. Staff said the rewrite would make many commonly approved items permitted by right inside the original townsite area and provide streamlined administrative tools such as minor variances.

Staff also described the public process: an oversight committee formed by City Council in July reviewed chapters over 11 meetings from August to February and included council members Tracy Williams, Brian Bothroyd and Adam Rupp, Planning Commission members including Brent Linford (chair) and Zach Robbins, a Board of Adjustment member Chris Evans and members of the public. Staff said the plan is to present the ordinance to City Council for introduction on April 1, with a second council meeting in April planned for adoption and an effective date in May following publication.

Commissioners complimented staff and developers involved in the outreach. A commissioner moved to send the zoning changes on to City Council; the motion passed by roll call: Steven Harrison, Lloyd Lentz, Phil Nichols and Zack Robbins voted yes (4-0). Staff said further questions could be addressed at the City Council introduction.

The presentation included many specific code provisions; staff provided a summary and copies of the draft code to commissioners in advance. The Planning Commission’s action was to forward the draft ordinance to the City Council for its consideration, not to adopt the code itself.