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Planning commission defers zoning rules for standalone electric vehicle charging facilities
Summary
The commission deferred for two meetings a text amendment that would add standalone electric vehicle charging facilities as a defined land use, proposing limits to Class 2/light-duty vehicles and siting conditions in commercial and industrial districts.
The Metropolitan Planning Commission voted to defer for two meetings a text amendment that would add “electric vehicle charging facility” as a defined, standalone land use in the zoning code.
Staff planner Dustin Shane said the zoning code currently treats charging equipment only as an accessory to parking and does not define a stand‑alone EV charging facility. The proposed amendment would add definitions for charging facilities and supply equipment, limit eligible vehicles to Class 2 or smaller (excluding heavy trucks), and specify where the use would be allowed and what buffering and lighting standards would apply when adjacent to residential areas.
Shane said the use would be allowed as a primary use in commercial, shopping center and industrial zoning districts and that the change would give clarity and predictability for operators and planners. He said buffers and lighting standards would be required when an EV charging facility is adjacent to residential zones.
Councilmember (unnamed in transcript) and Councilmember Campbell spoke in support; Campbell told commissioners she wants the city to “get ahead of any issues by introducing this bill” as electric vehicles become more common. Commissioners generally supported the concept and asked clarifying questions about whether parking-lot chargers for retail or shopping centers are treated differently (the answer: those remain accessory uses tied to the retail/parking use; the proposed amendment covers standalone facilities whose primary use is charging).
The commission approved a two‑meeting deferral to allow staff to finalize language and address any implementation questions. Staff and the sponsor plan to return with a refined text and noted the sponsor will ask the council public hearing be deferred to October so the commission’s recommendation can reach council in advance of the hearing.
Next steps: staff will refine definitions, permitted districts and buffering standards and return to the commission after the two‑meeting deferral.
