Planning commission reviews outline for zoning-code reclassification

Todd presented an update on the zoning-code reclassification project, describing a comprehensive “table read” of the code and an outline for reorganizing rules to make the code more legible and district‑centred.

“Mostly since I last saw you, I've been doing what I call a table read of the zoning code,” Todd said, explaining he has drafted an outline that would reorganize the code around zoning districts, consolidate conditional uses and nonconformity rules into single locations and add a chart or table at the start of each district to summarize applicable rules. Todd said he plans to meet with borough staff — including Maggie Dobbs when she is settled in — and council liaisons Michael and Jim Speer before the commission considers further steps.

The proposed approach emphasizes the district as the primary way a property owner would navigate the code. Todd said the reorganization is intended as an experiment to test whether a reorganized code would be more usable, not as formal legislation at this stage. Commissioners discussed adding cross‑references so district sections could point to consolidated provisions (conditional uses, nonconforming properties) and noted the possibility of live hyperlinks in an online version of the code.

Todd told the commission he hopes to have a clear “picture” of the reclassification approach before summer, after staff consultations and further commission review. No ordinance or legislative text was introduced at this meeting; the outline will be shared with council members and staff for comment and the commission will return to it at a future meeting.