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Planning & Zoning division outlines major transportation projects, area plans and zoning enforcement staffing needs
Summary
Department of Development Services staff summarized ongoing planning, transportation and zoning-enforcement work: streetscape and Main Street redesigns, trail projects, scooter program metrics, automated traffic enforcement planning, area/neighborhood plans, and staffing needs in the zoning enforcement unit.
The Department of Development Services’ Planning & Zoning Division briefed the committee Oct. 1 on a broad portfolio of planning and transportation projects, ongoing zoning-code work, and the division’s enforcement resources and priorities.
Director Sharon Nolan Deutsch and Chief Zoning Administrator Sharon Cheeks reviewed completed and planned projects, including the Downtown/Main Street streetscape design, Department Avenue Streetscape (construction underway), reimagining Main Street phases, Pulaski Circle redesign concepts, and a range of traffic‑calming projects slated for 2026–2028. Staff said trail projects (Riverwalk North, South Branch Park Riverwalk) have active design and permitting phases and that the city has applied federal and state grants for sections of the work.
Staff also reported nearly 280,000 scooter trips this year on roughly 800 vehicles and said city staff are discussing e‑bikes with the existing operator. Planning staff described progress on an automated traffic enforcement (speed and red-light camera) program: vendor site plans are under review; state school‑zone rules must be finalized before school-zone cameras can be installed; and the city is preparing outreach, citation-hearing procedures and pole‑access agreements.
On plan review, planners said they processed about 1,500 applications in the past 12 months (1,200 approved or closed; roughly 150 active), with only about 40 denials. Staff are upgrading application intake tools, digitizing records and drafting standard operating procedures to improve consistency and customer service.
Zoning enforcement staff described a current caseload of roughly 192 open cases and about 912 inspections in the past 12 months. Chief Zoning Administrator Sharon Cheeks said the division currently has three active enforcement officers (two permanent, one ARPA-funded vacancy recently recruited) plus the chief; she asked the committee to consider making two ARPA-funded enforcement positions permanent to allow a target caseload of about 50 cases per officer and more proactive enforcement. Common violations listed were automotive repair, front‑yard parking, work without permits, unpermitted paving, illegal dwelling units/rooming houses and signage.
Committee members praised the breadth of work but sought clearer timelines on grant-funded projects and welcomed a monthly status update on warming-center site search related to the 110 Washington Street disposition. Council members urged prioritizing sign enforcement, expedited review of mechanical permits and clearer guidance to residents about when historic-preservation review is required.
