Perry Council adopts omnibus land use code amendments to align with state law and clarify standards

City Administrator Bob Barnhill presented Ordinance 26-B, a package of Land Use Code amendments the planning commission had reviewed to comply with state statutes and streamline local development processes. The updates included changing references from state code section 10-9a to 10-20, clarifying that design review is an administrative land-use approval (for example, site-plan or subdivision review), and tightening flag-lot standards by reducing the maximum access-strip width from 40 feet to 30 feet.

The ordinance replaces the ADU percentage limit with a straight maximum of 2,000 square feet to avoid complications arising from percentage-based formulas; it clarified garage setback requirements for both attached and detached garages and added an 8-foot side setback for private streets, parking areas and access drives serving townhome developments to improve maneuverability and landscaping buffers. Landscaping definitions were updated to set minimum mature sizes for trees and shrubs, and parking requirements were adjusted to match state standards by reducing typical garage depth from 22 feet to 20 feet. Outdated references to streetlight approval and conflicting home-occupation rules were removed, and neighborhood-commercial provisions were consolidated.

Council Member Toby Wright moved to approve Ordinance 26-B; the motion was seconded and passed on a 5-0 roll call. The council adopted the clarified administrative and substantive changes as presented.