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City staff updates Unified Development Ordinance; commission sends text amendments to Council

Elkhart City Planning Commission · January 6, 2026

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Summary

The Planning Commission voted to forward City-initiated amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance (case 26 TXT-01) to the Common Council, including corrections, new signage rules for toll roads and houses of worship, an update to daycare special-exception conditions, and revised uses for the airport overlay district.

City staff presented a package of text amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance (case 26 TXT-01) and the Planning Commission voted to forward the changes to the Common Council with a 'do pass' recommendation.

Staff said the package corrects cross-reference errors, adds standards for limited-access (toll) road signage, updates special-exception conditions for daycares (including licensing, capacity and pickup/drop-off standards), revises allowed uses in the airport overlay district to better align with airport operations, and modifies sign standards to permit additional temporary yard signs and banners for places of worship (subject to maintenance requirements).

Commissioners asked for clarification about tree-lawn and telephone-pole signage; staff said signage in the right-of-way is prohibited and described the city’s enforcement options (residents may request removal through public works). No members of the public spoke during the hearing. The commission voted to forward the UDO amendments to the Common Council with a recommendation to approve and with the conditions listed in the staff report.