The Newcastle Planning Commission on Nov. 19 considered a citywide housekeeping package that updates terminology, removes outdated uniform-code references and tightens urban-design language to comply with new state "clear and objective" requirements.

Staff summarized about 20 edits described as non-policy or technical fixes but highlighted one substantive change that affects planned-unit developments (PUDs): restoring an approach that measures required common open space "net of critical areas" rather than from gross site area. Staff said the change corrects an earlier drafting outcome that unintentionally made PUDs more restrictive by counting critical areas as part of the open-space requirement.

One commissioner noted the correction could provide more flexibility to a pending Greencastle development if the developer opts into the updated code, but Fitzgibbons emphasized the change is intended to fix drafting errors rather than target any single project. "This wasn't done in response to anything that has to do with Greencastle," she said, adding that if housekeeping happens before the critical-areas update the development might see different opt-in choices.

Other housekeeping items included clarifying impact-fee language per Department of Commerce comments (ensuring fees for child-care providers are not higher than comparable commercial rates), updating references to the state wetland-rating manual, adding a takings-review procedure that references the Washington attorney general's October 2024 advisory, and removing prohibited references to certain cladding materials where state law now preempts local restrictions.

On downtown design guidelines, staff proposed editing subjective phrasing (for example, replacing "intentionally subjective" language) to meet the state's requirement that design standards be clear and objective while preserving the intent of promoting compatible streetscapes.

Next steps: staff said the next meeting will include redlines of the edits and the commission will consider a motion to recommend the housekeeping package to City Council.