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Committee debates zoning code changes defining farmers markets and allowing roof signs downtown
Summary
An ordinance (Z‑7‑CA‑36) to amend Tulsa’s zoning code (Title 42) to define farmers markets, set registration/parking criteria and to expand where roof signs are allowed drew questions about Board of Adjustment authority, neighborhood pop‑ups and historic building impacts.
The Urban Economic Development Committee reviewed Ordinance Z‑7‑CA‑36 on June 4, a proposed amendment to Title 42 of the City of Tulsa zoning code that updates rules for farmers markets and roof signs.
Susan Miller of the planning office told the committee the farmers market provisions were developed with the health department and Councilor Hal Harper to clarify when a market is a principal use versus a temporary event. The draft definition requires registration with the Department of Agriculture, a minimum of six vendors to qualify as a market, parking standards for permanent outdoor shelters (0.85 spaces per 1,000 square feet) and rules about removing tents when markets are not operating.
Councilors questioned whether the Board of Adjustment (BOA) should have authority to permit farmers markets in residentially zoned areas. Councilor Lakin and others said they were concerned about “pop‑up” markets on single‑family lots and suggested striking R‑zoned districts from the BOA permission to avoid unexpected neighborhood impacts. Planning staff said standard setback and parking rules would still apply and that neighborhood locations are unlikely to meet those requirements without larger lots.
On rooftop signage, staff described a narrower historic downtown allowance being expanded to CBD (central business district) property and clarified that any roof sign would count against a lot’s overall sign budget. A speaker at the planning meeting had raised concerns about impacts to historic buildings; staff said wall signs can be as or more damaging structurally than roof signs and noted the BOA routinely approves sign variances when hardship is demonstrated.
Committee members asked staff to refine language removing R‑zoned or AGR zones from the BOA exception and to return with clarified text; the item remained in discussion with two weeks before a formal council packet deadline.
