Staff previews proposed zoning code rewrite; commissioner raises concerns about reduced districts and housing conversions

Planning staff presented a draft rewrite of the city zoning code at the March 4 O'Leary Planning Commission meeting and said the update would simplify and consolidate existing districts from 18 to eight to reflect the city's adopted comprehensive plan.

Staff said the rewrite stems from the city's comprehensive plan adopted last year and is intended to modernize definitions and reduce the number of zoning districts "to make the process a little easier for people to understand" and more user-friendly. Staff said they expect a revised draft from their consultant imminently and that the draft has been distributed by utility bill insert, social media and the city website.

Commissioner Aiden expressed significant concern about the proposed consolidation. Aiden said the material he received did not explain how long-standing neighborhoods would be treated and whether conversions to multi-family use would become permissible in areas that residents had worked to convert from multi-family to single-family. "So changing it to 2 zoning classifications, I don't really see how that works," Aiden said, adding he is "not in favor at all" so far and asked for more detail and future meetings to address recovery facilities and group homes.

Staff replied that the draft is the November 27 update and that the consultant was expected to submit a revision the same day. Staff offered to re-circulate the presentation and asked commissioners to indicate if they did not receive it.

The commission took no formal action on the zoning rewrite at the meeting; staff said further revisions and public outreach will continue.