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Johnston council initiates zoning text amendments and places temporary moratorium on 10-foot administrative height exceptions
Summary
Council approved a package to start rewriting definitions and rules tied to an administrative 10-foot height exception and adopted a six-month moratorium on using that exception while staff drafts text amendments.
The Johnston City Council voted March 17 to initiate a series of zoning text amendments and to place a moratorium on the administrative height exception in Chapter 167.035(b) of the zoning code.
City staff said the amendments will review uses listed in the administrative height-exception provision, add definitions in the code's definitions chapter, and consider whether specific height exceptions should be allowed only in certain zoning districts rather than universally. The proposed moratorium would prevent the zoning administrator from using the administrative 10-foot height allowance for structures above district height limits for up to six months or until the amendments are adopted, whichever comes first.
Council members asked how the moratorium would affect projects already in the pipeline. Staff said there were no pending site-plan applications that would be impacted by the moratorium and noted that pre-development conversations frequently occur without an application on file. Council and staff also discussed the standards for variances before the zoning board of adjustment; staff and council members noted Iowa law requires a strict showing of unnecessary hardship for a variance, and that the board's authority is separate from the administrative height exception.
Council members asked staff to include sign-definition language and related definitions in the review. Staff said the initiative will begin with internal drafting, follow up with stakeholder feedback (including an ad-hoc committee or similar review), go to the planning and zoning commission and then return to council as ordinances for adoption.
The council approved Resolution No. 25-72 to initiate text amendments and Resolution No. 25-73 establishing the moratorium. Staff said the moratorium can be extended if needed.
