Hammond council introduces several Unified Development Code amendments on definitions, guest houses, restaurants, appeals and billboards

The Hammond City Council on Sept. 23 introduced a package of proposed amendments to the city's Unified Development Code (UDC) that would update general definitions, add specific uses (including a guest house provision and a restaurant definition), clarify appeal timelines and remove outdated billboard rules.

The introductions, which carry the force of public notice and schedule the items for public hearing on Oct. 14, were presented by planning staff and recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission. Council members moved and seconded each introduction and voted to introduce the measures so the public may review the attached redline materials before final consideration.

Why it matters: The amendments are intended to remove ambiguous or outdated language, add new, more detailed use descriptions and align some appeal timelines with state practice. Changes could affect small businesses and homeowners (for example, accessory guest houses and small food vendors) and will be the subject of public hearings before any final vote.

Key details from the proposed revisions: - Definitions and general clean-up: Staff described strike-throughs and new redlined text that clarify several existing definitions across the UDC. These amendments were introduced as a package to be considered at the Oct. 14 public hearing.

- Guest house: The proposed text defines a guest house as “an attached or detached accessory dwelling located on the same lot of record as an existing primary residential structure containing a lodging unit with kitchen facilities used to house occasional nonpaying, noncommercial guests of the occupants of the primary residential unit located on the same site.” Planning staff read the proposed wording aloud and said it remains largely consistent with the existing definition but adds an explicit new section (6.38) for guest houses.

- Restaurants and small food vendors: The new restaurant definition would cover eating establishments “including but not limited to coffee shops, cafeterias, sandwich stands, school cafeterias” and explicitly states the term includes a bar located within a restaurant “in compliance with state statute.” Council members raised questions about whether small stands (for example, hamburger stands or sandwich stands) would be captured by the definition and asked staff to clarify whether and how such existing vendors would be treated or grandfathered.

- Appeals procedure: One proposed ordinance would revise multiple appeal sections in the UDC to unify language on time limits (some existing sections used 3, 5 or 10 days and were inconsistent about business days versus calendar days) and to clarify where appeals should be filed. Planning staff said the intent is to tighten ambiguous text and align timelines with applicable state statutes in some places. For example, planning staff explained they inserted deadlines in sections that previously lacked any specified timeframe (such as for fences, shrubs and buffer zone appeals).

- Billboards: Another introduction would remove unused or outdated definitions and recommends no new billboards be allowed going forward; existing nonconforming billboards would be required to meet the applicable ordinances in effect when they were permitted.

Council concerns and clarifications: Several council members asked that staff provide clearer examples and written reference materials before the Oct. 14 hearing. Councilman Wells asked that language specifically list “hamburger” or similar small food vendors to avoid ambiguity; staff agreed to refer that question to Frankie (planning) for clarification and to publish the attachments. Council members also discussed grandfathering for long-established vendors that may lack required fixtures such as grease traps.

Formal actions: The council formally moved to introduce each ordinance so a public hearing and further review can occur on Oct. 14. The Planning and Zoning Commission recommended adoption on the items presented. Specific introductions and the council roll calls were recorded on the transcript for the meeting and will be part of the record at the October hearing.

What’s next: Staff advised the public and council members to review the redlined attachments and to submit questions by email before the Oct. 14 public hearing. Frankie (planning) was expected to attend the October meeting to address outstanding questions.

Ending note: The introductions do not adopt the amendments; they schedule public hearings and notify residents of the proposed changes. Final votes would come at a subsequent council meeting after public comment and staff responses.