Planning staff to present PUD zoning and consolidated codes next month after yearlong review

Planning staff reported that a yearlong revision of zoning and permitting documents is nearing completion and that a consolidated Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning approach will be presented to the commission at an upcoming work session.

Rosalie and other staff said they have been proofreading and cleaning up county and urban codes, removing redundant or state-covered sections. "We've been working on that for over a year now, and it's nice that that's becoming to a head," Rosalie said. She said staff has combined elements into tables to make the code easier to navigate.

Under the proposed PUD approach, applicants would submit a unified application that combines zoning and site plans so a project is reviewed as a single package. Rosalie said, "For PUDs, only what you say is gonna go there and is approved can go there. So it gives us a little more security on what's being done." Staff said the consolidated code will be searchable online, combining Trousdale County and Hartsville documents into one searchable resource rather than separate PDFs.

Staff noted remaining housekeeping tasks and said the planning office plans to present at the next work session and then to the full commission. Staff also recommended commissioners attend available trainings (MTAS, CTAS, TAPA) to satisfy annual training requirements; some training costs are reimbursable through the county.

Commissioners encouraged members to brief county commissioners about the rewrite to secure support; staff said the county commission recently passed a budget and that work on zoning would proceed now that budget matters are settled.

No formal action was taken at the meeting on the PUD code; staff will present a finished draft at a future work session.