Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Code Amendments topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning commission recommends minor code amendments: aligns use-table terms, drops agricultural employee dwelling unit and sets height exception at 8 feet
Summary
Staff presented minor amendments to the Development Code to align use-table wording, remove agricultural employee dwelling units from the eastern code, and clarify a height exception; commissioners approved the changes with edits requesting an 8-foot exception and on‑the‑record appeals language.
Summarizing a late addition to the agenda, staff member Laura presented proposed housekeeping amendments to the Development Code, including corrections to terminology, removal of the agricultural employee dwelling unit from the use table on the eastern side of the county, and an exception in the height definition for vents, chimneys and mechanical equipment.
Laura said the edits were largely clerical and intended to make the code consistent: "They're pretty minor. Nothing substantial really is changing," she told the commission. Commissioners asked for two adjustments: change the 'one-family dwelling unit' language to 'single family detached dwelling unit' and expand the height exception above the roof from 5 feet to 8 feet. Counsel and several commissioners also voiced support for making the appeals review an on‑the‑record review rather than a de novo review; staff agreed to coordinate language with counsel.
A commissioner moved to approve the proposed amendments with the requested edits and to omit one section (chapter 11) from the current motion so staff could further refine it. The motion passed by voice vote; commissioners directed staff to return with a cleaned-up use table and the finalized language for the items the commission asked be reworked.
Next steps: staff will update the red-line code language to reflect the single-family detached terminology, adopt the 8-foot rooftop exception language to be forwarded to county council, and coordinate with counsel on the appeals provision before returning a final draft.
