Planning commission reviews UDC zoning map, warns rezoning could make park uses nonconforming

The Planning and Zoning Commission on July 15 reviewed the final step of adopting the Unified Development Code zoning map and debated whether not having a dedicated parks zoning district leaves town parks adequately protected.

Leslie Knight, Director of Development Neighborhood Services, told commissioners the UDC codified new districts adopted by City Council in March and that the zoning map applies those districts to parcels across Addison. Knight said staff and a consultant developed the map with input from a 12-person advisory committee and multiple public meetings.

Knight emphasized staff chose not to create a single parks zoning district because Addison’s parks vary widely in purpose and context. "We were not going to create a one-size-fits-all parks district that would end up requiring many small, tailored districts," Knight said. Instead, staff proposed applying districts compatible with adjacent uses to limit nonconformity.

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