Council introduces several UDC amendments, billboard limits and rezoning requests for Oct. 14 public hearing

At the Sept. 23 meeting the Hamilton City Council introduced a package of ordinances to be set for public hearing on Oct. 14 that would change several parts of the city's Unified Development Code (UDC) and consider individual rezoning and right-of-way items.

Staff described the first ordinance as a cleanup of general UDC definitions. The Planning & Zoning Commission recommended adoption (3–0), and staff said the redlined packet identifies specific changes. Another ordinance would add defined uses and a new section (6.38) for "guest house" and clarify definitions for restaurants, home occupations and accessory lodging; Planning & Zoning recommended adoption (4–0). Council members asked for clarifications about whether small sandwich or hamburger stands would be treated as "restaurants" and whether existing vendors would be grandfathered; staff said sandwich stands are included in the definition and promised further clarification from planning staff (Frankie) at the Oct. 14 hearing.

Council also introduced changes to the UDC appeals process intended to unify time limits and remove ambiguity over business vs. calendar days. Staff said the amendment brings city language more in line with state statutes and standardizes appeal deadlines and appeal routes to council. Discussion addressed how variances, site-plan review and manufactured/mobile-home entrance orientations would be handled after the revisions.

The council introduced an ordinance to remove outdated definitions and tighten requirements for billboards; Planning & Zoning recommended against allowing new billboards and to require existing billboards to conform to current code. Several rezoning introductions were also read into the record: a request by Sherry Brown Jackson to rezone 806 Mooney Ave from RS-3 to RM-2 for a duplex, and Chad Havel's request to rezone 610 West Morrison from RM-2 to MXN to convert an existing building into office use. Staff noted attachments and maps are in the packet for some items but said one rezoning lacked a map in the meeting materials and staff would provide a corrected map.

Other introductions included a proposal to revoke a city right-of-way adjacent to 703 South Cypress (applicant Mark Nettles), conditioned on the applicant paying survey and recording costs, and surplus-property introductions for older city vehicles proposed for donation or parts.

All introduced ordinances were scheduled for public hearing and further documentation before the Oct. 14 council meeting.