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Council reviews first read of Downtown Development District code update (Ordinance 64058); staff says changes are largely formatting and clarifications
Summary
City staff introduced Ordinance 64058 to amend Appendix A (Downtown Development District) to the Mobile Unified Development Code. Staff said the document was reformatted into a new, user-friendly template, with clarifications to parking/screening, added definitions and graphics, and a procedural change to remove the CRC step; council members requested redline tracking and stakeholder engagement lists.
City staff described a first read of Ordinance 64058, which would amend Appendix A — the Downtown Development District — of the Mobile Unified Development Code.
Councilwoman Ingram asked for a redline comparison so members could track the changes and asked for a list of stakeholders and dates of engagement. A city staff member responding to the request said the draft had been completely reformatted into a new template and that a traditional redline would be difficult; the staff member offered to provide a reference document showing where specific edits were made and said most edits were clarifications (parking, screening requirements, added definitions) and presentation changes (graphics and illustrations) rather than substantive policy changes.
The staff member said the update began in October 2024 and noted a key procedural change: submissions will no longer need to be presented to the CRC (consolidated review committee). Instead, the consolidated review committee’s function will be integrated into the city’s internal review process to reduce conflicts of interest and speed review; staff emphasized this was not intended to eliminate review but to move it internally.
Council members said they appreciated the streamlining but asked staff to provide documentation listing the errors corrected and any amendments made to ensure transparency. Staff said a public comment portal and a dedicated webpage are available for feedback and that the staff would share a reference document with the council listing edits and stakeholder contacts.
What’s next: Staff will provide a reference/compare document and a stakeholder engagement list to the council before further action; council members indicated they may seek additional time to consult downtown business owners and residents before advancing the ordinance beyond first read.
