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Planning commission backs UDO amendments to expand nonindustrial outlot sizes and clarify form-based table
Summary
Commission recommended city council adopt UDO amendments to raise the maximum nonindustrial outlot size from 1 acre to 5 acres (with a 20% parent-parcel cap), update the building-envelope overview table and simplify accessory structure references. The commission held a public hearing and voted to forward the amendments to council.
The Holland City Planning Commission on Aug. 12 voted to recommend that city council adopt proposed updates to the United Development Ordinance (UDO), including changes to the nonindustrial outlot rules, additions to the form-based building-envelope overview table, and a clarification of accessory-structure references.
Staff explained the proposed nonindustrial outlot amendment would increase the maximum allowed size of a nonindustrial outlot in industrially zoned parcels from 1 acre to 5 acres, but with a cap that any nonindustrial outlot may not exceed 20% of the parent parcel as defined by the parcel configuration when the UDO was adopted. Staff said this sliding scale permits larger outlots only on larger parcels; for example, the full 5-acre outlot would be allowable only on parcels of 25 acres or larger.
Planning staff said the 1-acre maximum in the existing UDO has made it impractical to realize nonindustrial outlot development and that the consultant who helped draft the UDO indicated the 1-acre limit was likely an error; staff recommended the change to 5 acres to better align with market feasibility while retaining the 20% cap to protect industrial acreage.
Staff also proposed expanding and clarifying the building-envelope overview table (the form-based code cheat sheet) so it includes all relevant setback and height information in one place. Staff said the changes are editorial and interpretive, not changes to substantive regulations. A final change would simplify cross-references for accessory-structure setbacks to reduce confusion and avoid a circular cross-reference.
The commission held a public hearing on the amendments; no members of the public spoke. Commissioners who participated argued the amendments would enable a wider range of nonindustrial uses on large industrial parcels, including housing in limited cases where parcels exceed the threshold size, and could support attainable housing opportunities near employment areas. The commission voted unanimously to forward the UDO amendments to city council for consideration.
Staff recommended council approve the amendments; the commission asked staff to prepare the final ordinance language and supporting materials for council review.
