Council hears Century Code update; debate centers on tree rules, zoning map and housing tradeoffs

City staff presented a final public hearing on a broad ordinance to repeal and replace land‑use chapters of the municipal code and to amend the comprehensive plan and stormwater rules, drawing public comment and detailed council questions.

Eric Noel, a city staff member presenting the Century Code/Land Development Ordinance project, told the council the package would repeal and replace Titles 17 and 18 (zoning and subdivision) and amend Title 19 (stormwater). Noel said the package collapses multiple documents and design manuals into a single, illustrated code intended to improve clarity for developers and staff and to align zoning language with the comprehensive plan and state law. "This is a large project that you've been working on for over two years," Noel said.

The nut graf: The ordinance bundle contains three linked policy areas that the council has repeatedly signaled as priorities—streamlined development rules intended to boost housing supply, new stormwater/erosion thresholds driven by state DNR guidance, and a revised tree‑preservation regime that council members and speakers said affects infill feasibility. The council heard technical detail from staff, then heard 10 public comments representing arborists, builders, business groups and neighborhood interests.

Key provisions and staff clarifications - Titles: The package would repeal existing…