Plan Commission sends favorable recommendation on broad CDO text amendments, adds battery storage standards

The Monroe County Plan Commission on Jan. 21 voted unanimously to send a favorable recommendation to the county commissioners for ZOA‑26‑1, a wide set of County Development Ordinance text amendments that include drafting corrections, use‑table updates and new standards for certain energy systems.

Staff summarized the packet changes and said many edits were minor corrections or clarifications; several substantive changes were highlighted. The amendments will add "schools" to multiple zoning use tables to conform with state statute and add battery energy storage systems as a conditional use in the Institutional Public (IP), High Industrial (HI) and Airport zones with standards referenced under 11‑11(b). The amendment text explicitly states that small modular nuclear reactors will not be permitted in any zone.

The draft also clarifies encroachment allowances (for balconies, uncovered porches and detached accessory roofs), corrects phrasing that impeded ordinance searchability, and proposes removing a requirement for sidewalks on subdivisions located on moderate priority road improvements until an updated alternative transportation map and plan are adopted. Staff noted an amendment clarifying payment and expense rules for plan commission members.

Committee member moved that the commission recommend approval of the amendments and waive a second hearing; the motion carried by roll call 6–0 (yes: David Bush; Margaret Clements; Ronan Wright Randolph; Matt Perez; Rudy Fields; Julie Thomas). Staff said final ordinance numbers and adoption dates will be added before the county commissioners' hearing.

What happens next: the county commissioners will consider the package; the Plan Commission’s recommendation is advisory. The commission conditioned no further local procedural steps beyond the recommendation and the waiver of a second hearing.