Council approves text amendment to final-plat requirements, advances ordinance 3561

The Stillwater City Council voted 4-0 March 10 to approve a Planning Commission-recommended text amendment to Chapter 23 of the city code that would allow the Development Services director to approve exceptions to the requirement that blocks and lots be numbered consecutively on final plats.

The amendment, to Section 23-3-27 of the Land Development Code, adds the phrase “Unless otherwise approved in writing by the Development Services Director,” to give staff limited flexibility for large or phased projects where existing project documentation or related financing mechanisms make strict numeric sequencing impractical.

David Barth, Development Services, told the council that most plats should continue to use consecutive numbering but that “in rare circumstances we need that flexibility.” Barth described situations such as phased developments or projects tied to other actions like tax-increment financing where nonconsecutive numbering may better reflect the project’s structure.

The Planning Commission had recommended the amendment 5-0. After public hearing procedures, a council member moved to approve the Planning Commission recommendation; the motion carried 4-0.

Later on the agenda the council advanced ordinance 35-61 (the formal code amendment) to a second reading and, by separate vote, enacted the emergency clause so the change can take effect immediately pending completion of the ordinance process. Both votes were 4-0.

The council discussed whether the code should expressly allow a designee to act when there is no Development Services director on staff; one councilor suggested adding “or designee” to the text. Staff indicated that existing code elsewhere provides for designees and the city manager likely could exercise equivalent authority.

The amendment now advances through the ordinance process with a second-reading date set by the council.