Council sets hearings on UDC changes for landscaping, housing and signage
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Summary
The council approved first readings and set public hearings for two Unified Development Code ordinances: Ordinance 22-20 25 (landscaping and open space; prohibits certain nonfunctional turf per state law) and Ordinance 23-20 25 (multiple UDC fixes to expedite affordable housing, allow childcare uses in agricultural zones, clarify sign and small-solar rules, and prohibit vape advertising visible from public rights-of-way).
Development Services staff presented two first-reading ordinances to amend the city's Unified Development Code and the council voted to set public hearings.
Deacon (Development Services) described Ordinance 22-20 25 as primarily housekeeping and an update to bring landscaping and open-space rules in line with local climate, water conservation goals and recent state law requirements. The ordinance would prohibit nonfunctional turf adjacent to streets or in medians in commercial, industrial and civic zones; staff said the residential restrictions in the state law take effect later (2028) and were not addressed now.
On Ordinance 23-20 25, Deacon listed about 10 items the update would correct: add an off-ramp for other governmental agencies on certain land-use decisions; allow child-care uses on city-owned agricultural land; add standards for subdivision plats; codify the city's practice to expedite affordable housing review (including a $50,000 Prop 1-23 allocation reference); clarify classifications for small solar panels and small wind conversion systems; and add a prohibition on vape advertising visible from the public right-of-way to align with state law.
Councilors asked whether sign-related changes would grandfather existing uses; staff said existing uses tied to principal commercial uses would remain allowable and that the vaping and advertising prohibitions reflect state requirements already on the books. Council moved to approve both items for first reading and set public hearings for Nov. 5 (or soon thereafter).
No final ordinance adoptions occurred at this meeting; the first readings schedule the items for public hearings where additional public comment and possible amendments may occur.