City planner presents draft EV-charging rules; council gives preliminary feedback

City planner Bethany Moore presented draft electric-vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure regulations and asked the City Council for feedback on definitions, review processes and proposed minimums.

Moore outlined three charger levels: Level 1 (low-voltage outlet), Level 2 (common commercial/residential charging, smaller equipment) and Level 3 (DC fast chargers with larger equipment and generators). Her draft proposes that Level 1 and Level 2 installations meeting location criteria be approved at the staff level, while Level 3 installations would require Planning & Zoning Commission review as a minor site plan and standalone DC fast-charger stations would be treated as conditional uses.

The draft would require EV-ready or EV-installed spaces for new parking facilities at a minimum of 3% for nonresidential uses and 5% for multifamily uses, with exemptions for churches and nonprofits where state law requires. Moore noted the city previously denied an EVgo Level 3 application because of site constraints and said the proposed rules are intended to provide clear review standards and avoid ad-hoc proposals.

Council members questioned costs (Moore said a Level 2 installation in a structured lot was quoted at about $3,000 per space), who pays electricity (property owner), and whether state law constrains municipal requirements; Moore and staff said developers would bear installation costs and that the draft would be refined before formal code amendment.