Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning Planning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning and zoning advisory committee issues final report; council to post packet and schedule joint workshops
Summary
A council committee delivered a seven-point zoning report recommending definition audits, form-based/hybrid codes, a stand-alone city zoning ordinance, an online portal, an urban service boundary ordinance option and an inventory of vacant properties; council asked staff to publish the packet and plan a joint workshop with Planning & Zoning.
The Planning and Zoning Advisory Committee presented its final report to the Georgetown City Council on Jan. 12, outlining seven topic areas for future council action and requesting that the full packet be posted online for public review.
The committee recommended auditing and tightening zoning definitions, considering form-based or hybrid codes for targeted areas to promote walkability and mixed-use development, and evaluating adoption of a stand-alone city zoning ordinance (to separate city and county rules where appropriate). The report also recommended an online portal for zoning applications and maps, considering an urban service boundary adoption by ordinance rather than only by comprehensive plan, and creating an inventory of vacant, abandoned, and underused properties to inform affordable-housing strategies.
Committee members said Emily (city staff) compiled submissions from committee members and will post the packet for council and public review. Councilmembers discussed next steps, including letting the public review the materials, returning the topic to the next meeting for initial council feedback, and scheduling joint workshops with the Planning & Zoning Commission after members and the public have had a chance to read the packet.
Council members highlighted the need to audit definitions because inconsistent or unclear definitions undercut regulatory certainty and said some items (for example solar and modern technology) may be "low-hanging fruit" for initial amendment. No ordinance was proposed at the Jan. 12 meeting; staff and council agreed to continue work and collect public input before drafting clarifying text.
