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Staff proposes zoning text amendment to convert Urban Growth Master Plan 'should' recommendations into enforceable 'shall' standards
Summary
Daniel Crum described a zoning ordinance text amendment (ZOTA) to carry Urban Growth Master Plan recommendations into objective regulatory language inside UGMP boundaries only; staff framed the change as procedural, explained how House Bill 443 altered review pathways, and gave a tentative March–May timeline for drafting and hearings.
Daniel Crum, planning staff, told the commission that the proposed Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment (ZOTA) aims to carry forward the Urban Growth Master Plan’s recommendations by updating ordinance language so that plan 'should' recommendations become objective 'shall' standards within the UGMP areas only. Crum framed the effort as a technical implementation step so that plan expectations — on access, site design, pedestrian infrastructure and parking — are reflected in enforceable standards at the appropriate stage of review.
Crum outlined the post‑House Bill 443 environment that changed discretionary review for final development plans and emphasized the role of the planning commission in preliminary development review. "The intent behind the ZOTA is to take the prescriptions that are in the urban growth master plan ... and making them into objective standards," Crum said. He explained the process: staff will draft text for commission review at the next work session, with a potential initiation in March, filing in early April, committee consideration in May and a projected hearing around May 28 if additional time is not required.
Crum noted the amendment would be narrowly applied within UGMP boundaries and would not create additional requirements outside the plan area. He said staff’s goal is to avoid creating new or unnecessary hoops but to provide clear, objective expectations for developers and reviewers. Commissioners did not take formal action at the work session; staff asked for feedback and said they will return with draft language for review.
Because the ZOTA changes how recommendations are carried forward into enforceable standards, forthcoming drafts will be scrutinized for scope, potential waivers and how objective language interacts with engineering manuals for technical subjects such as stormwater.
