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Council hears presentation on updated comprehensive plan and zoning map; schedules planning commission review
Summary
After an 18‑month process led by planning staff and consultant Michael Baker, council received the updated comprehensive plan and draft zoning ordinance. Several members requested more time and neighborhood outreach; planning commission will take up the item Sept. 15 for deeper review before any adoption vote.
Planning staff presented the borough’s updated comprehensive plan and associated zoning‑ordinance changes, describing an 18‑month process with public engagement and solicitor review. The consultant Michael Baker provided the draft language in the packet and staff said they had incorporated solicitor feedback.
Trajan, who led the presentation, summarized the outreach and review and said, "I think we've had a good process... I think we're ready to adopt this thing." Several council members pushed back on that timetable, saying they had only had the packet for a short period and needed more time to study the more than 200 pages and the new zoning map. Concerns focused on a perceived imbalance in mixed‑use designations that, according to at least one council member, concentrated mixed‑use (purple) zoning more on the east side of town and omitted areas on the west side that some members expected to be included.
Council discussed options for additional review, including a work session dedicated to the comp‑plan and zoning map, neighborhood education sessions by ward, and scheduling the planning commission to make the item a primary agenda topic. Staff agreed to pursue neighborhood sessions and to update related forms and communications if council adopts the plan.
The council agreed to ask planning commission to make the topic an agenda item for its September 15 meeting (5:30 p.m.) so commissioners and staff can hold a more focused conversation and, if necessary, invite consultants or other experts. No adoption vote was taken at the council meeting; council members requested further opportunity to digest the document and to raise targeted questions before any final action.
Provenance: Planning presentation and adoption discussion begin in the transcript at SEG 1768 (introduction of the topic and public‑engagement recap) and continue through the scheduling and next‑step agreement around SEG 2130–SEG 2146 where the September 15 planning meeting is set.
