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Council approves first reading to tighten site-plan threshold for larger multifamily projects
Summary
The Decorah City Council adopted the first reading of an ordinance amending Municipal Code section 17.36.020 to raise the site-plan review threshold so only residential buildings larger than four units require a site plan; the change was recommended by the Planning & Zoning Commission.
The Decorah City Council on first reading approved an amendment to section 17.36.020 of the Decorah Municipal Code that changes the city’s site-plan review threshold for residential projects.
City staff told the council the proposed ordinance would revise the existing code so that the site-plan requirement would apply to developments larger than a four-family dwelling instead of anything larger than a duplex. “The only change proposed is the requirement threshold,” a staff member said, noting Planning & Zoning recommended the change after staff observed the same site-plan standard applied to both small multi-family infill and very large commercial projects.
The measure cleared first reading after a motion by Council Member Chisel and a second by Council Member Zittergruen. In roll call votes during the meeting, Chisel, Zittergruen, Missalinich, Olson, Whittle, Neal and Parker voted in favor and the motion carried.
Supporters said the amendment would align review requirements with project scale and reduce unnecessary process for small multifamily projects. Staff pointed to a previous presentation about a four-unit project on Washington Street to illustrate why the threshold was under review.
Because this vote was the ordinance’s first reading, the item will return for a final reading and adoption at a future meeting if the council moves forward. The proposed ordinance, as discussed, limits the site-plan review trigger to projects larger than a four-family residential dwelling rather than anything above two units.
