Garfield Heights council advances new zoning code, delays effective date to February

Garfield Heights' City Council on Jan. 12 moved forward with a comprehensive rewrite of the city's planning and zoning code but voted to delay when the new rules take effect.

Council considered Ordinance 87-2025, described by the mayor as an effort to allow mixed-use development and repurpose underused parking and ‘‘dead’’ space for new housing and storefronts. Councilwoman Carty moved that the ordinance not take effect until February 2026; the motion was seconded and the roll-call vote was recorded as passing 6–0.

Mayor Matthew Burke, who previewed the code change during his report, told council the update is designed to make the city more attractive for first-time homebuyers and to guide future construction. “So I’m asking for support in Ordinance 87-2025. Let’s get this one done, and we can experience the growth that we’re about to see there,” he said during his remarks to the body.

Council voted to consider the ordinance by title and to waive standard pre‑reading rules before the roll call. The adopted delay sets February 2026 as the earliest date the ordinance will take effect; council did not vote in this meeting to amend the ordinance’s substance on the floor.

The ordinance sponsor is recorded in the agenda as Mayor Matthew Burke; the council’s roll-call recorded affirmative votes across six members. The item will return to the administrative process for publication and an effective-date implementation step in February.

What’s next: With the effective date moved to February, council and staff will complete publishing and any required notice steps. No additional amendments to the ordinance were recorded during the Jan. 12 proceedings.