Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Comprehensive Plan Implementation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council continues comprehensive plan implementation zoning text amendment to Oct. 21
Summary
Garner planning staff presented proposed zoning text amendments intended to align the Unified Development Ordinance with the comprehensive plan; council voted to continue the public hearing to Oct. 21 for additional staff work and individual council briefings.
Planning Director Jeff Trezenberg presented a multi-purpose zoning text amendment package Sept. 16 designed to implement the town's comprehensive plan. Staff asked the council to continue the public hearing to the council's Oct. 21 meeting to allow staff time to revise figures and respond to additional council comments.
The amendment package is organized around seven purposes: (1) reconcile prior ordinance language that may conflict with state session law; (2) update land-use names and definitions to better align with building code terminology; (3) refine the appropriate mix of residential building types in each district (with particular attention to the R-8 district); (4) amend the use table to ensure expected mixes of residential and nonresidential uses in certain districts; (5) add new uses such as live-work units and artisan shops with unit-count distinctions; (6) incentivize preferred neighborhood design through density bonuses targeted to higher-density districts; and (7) remove redundant regulatory language. Trezenberg said staff added a "block face" layout and connectivity standard and proposed requiring upper-story residential in certain mixed-use districts for multifamily structures of more than four units.
Staff emphasized constraints imposed by state law, referencing session law 2020-457, which limits a municipality's ability to downzone property. The council and staff discussed differentiating small-scale house-form residential types (two units or less) from larger townhome groupings and the potential role of tiny homes or cottage housing as future options to address affordability. Trezenberg said the package is still in flux and that the planning commission and staff will return recommendations after additional refinement.
Council members asked for follow-up briefings and one-on-one sessions with staff. Council member Singleton suggested staff monitor developments in other cities for tiny-home regulations; council member Matthews asked for a focused briefing on major items. At the meeting's close, the council voted unanimously to continue the public hearing to the regular Oct. 21 meeting.
