Jackson City council approves broad zoning overhaul and sign-code changes
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Summary
The council approved a series of zoning-text amendments that consolidate residential districts, move sign regulations into the zoning ordinance, eliminate an unused PURD tool and adjust parking standards; the Planning Commission recommended the changes.
The Jackson City council approved a package of zoning-text amendments Tuesday that city planners said will simplify the city's residential district structure and move sign regulations into the zoning code.
City planning staff (Speaker 10) told council the changes include rezoning 37.39 acres at Hillary Drive and Blake Drive from RS-1 to RS-2, consolidating multiple single-family residential categories into fewer districts, moving the city's older sign code into the zoning ordinance and eliminating an unused Planned Unit Residential Development (PURD) section. "We've reduced the number of residential districts and tried to condense and improve the ordinance," Speaker 10 said, describing the updates as the product of months of review and as recommended by the Planning Commission.
The measures are largely procedural and intended to clarify rules for developers and staff, Speaker 10 said. For signs, the code change moves sign regulations to the zoning ordinance and establishes a 7-year amortization period for legally approved but now-nonconforming signs. When asked whether existing businesses would face immediate changes, Speaker 10 said legally approved existing signs will be treated as nonconforming and covered by the amortization schedule.
Council questions focused on how existing parcels would map into the new categories and whether multifamily and duplex districts would change. "If it's a 1, it means single-family; if it's a 2, it's duplex; if it's 3, it's multifamily," Speaker 10 explained while describing the consolidation. A council member (Speaker 9) asked whether existing RG zoning would be converted or retained; staff replied existing development remains as-is, and only new development would fall under the updated regulations.
All zoning and text amendments brought forward in Items 6 through 11 were approved on voice votes recorded in the transcript as motions passing 6–0.
What happens next: The ordinances approved at first reading will follow the local process for second reading and formal adoption according to city procedure. Planning staff said they expect additional presentations by the Housing Commission and further implementation steps in coming weeks.
