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Plan Commission reviews draft Unified Development Ordinance that consolidates zoning and subdivision rules
Summary
Planning staff and consultants presented a draft Unified Development Ordinance July 7 that consolidates zoning and subdivision rules and proposes fewer, more clearly defined districts and new form- and use-based standards.
City planning staff and consultants presented the draft Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) and described the project’s goals, public engagement and proposed changes.
The UDO consolidates zoning, subdivision and related regulations into a single code intended to make development rules clearer and more predictable. Consultants Cynthia Bowen and Allison Richardson (REA) and representatives from Enfocus walked the commission through the ordinance purpose and highlights: fewer districts (the draft reduces districts from 15 to 9), a new building-type approach (separating building typology from use), updated parking and landscape standards, more graphics and measurement rules, updated signage rules that conform with state/federal law, and a proposed hearing-officer process to streamline some approvals.
Public engagement and findings: staff reported 13 public engagement events totaling about 36 hours, distribution of roughly 240 printed materials, 500 website views and about 150 unique visitors. A visual-preference survey showed relatively strong public support for townhouse and side-by-side duplex housing types and interest in pedestrian amenities such as outdoor dining and extra-wide sidewalks.
Key technical changes noted to the commission included: a proposed reduction in R-1 minimum lot width from 75 feet to 60 feet intended to reduce existing nonconformities (staff reported nonconforming lots decreasing from 557 to 270 with that change); consolidation and renaming of districts to describe character (e.g., Suburban Residential, Compact Residential, Urban Residential); and creation of more detailed rules on measurement, build-to zones, and form-based elements for specific areas (for example, downtown and Benham neighborhood overlays will focus on character and allow more flexible underlying standards).
Staff emphasized that the draft is not final: additional edits, a joint presentation to the Common Council on July 30, more public engagement events, and training for boards and staff are planned before adoption. Commissioner comments were generally supportive; several members thanked staff and consultants for the work.
Next steps: staff will circulate the online draft, continue targeted outreach, and prepare for a joint Plan Commission–Council session later in July.
