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Germantown advances 134‑page municipal code and zoning text amendments to second reading; public hearing set for Feb. 9
Summary
Director Ross presented a 134-page package of municipal code and zoning text amendments focused on clarity, consistency and administrative efficiency; the board approved the first reading, set a Feb. 9 public hearing, and invited further staff review on accessory-structure and porch provisions.
Director Ross presented Ordinance 2026-5, a comprehensive set of municipal code and zoning text amendments intended to clarify and streamline the city’s development regulations. Ross said the package consolidates repetitive uses into a front-end use table, adjusts bulk and parking regulations, aligns Design Review Commission and Planning Commission approvals, sets a 10% administrative threshold for site-plan approvals, introduces conditional use permits to streamline processes, tightens accessory-structure size rules (to prevent accessory structures from exceeding the principal structure), adds accessory-dwelling-unit provisions, and adds guidance on fence-height calculations and electric-vehicle-charging considerations.
Ross and Assistant Director Pounder told the board the amendments remove obsolete OG1 references, add graphics to clarify fence-height measurement, update phasing-plan and administrative-review parameters for minor site-plan changes, and clarify public-art fee calculation in smart-code projects. Board members thanked staff for the work; Alderman Salvaggio called the effort “a really big deal” and requested one more review on accessory-structure and ADU ratios before the second hearing; Vice Mayor Gibson said she would also convene a meeting to discuss porches.
Alderman Salvaggio moved to approve the ordinance on first reading and set a public hearing for Feb. 9; Alderman Hicks seconded. The roll call returned affirmative votes from aldermen present and the measure moved to second reading with the Feb. 9 public hearing scheduled.
What’s next: staff will accommodate aldermen requests for additional review of accessory-structure and porch language before the second reading; public hearing scheduled for 02/09/2026.
