Planning commission approves text amendments to Articles 1–3 to clarify attendance rules, definitions and require zoning permits before building permits

The Danville Planning and Zoning Commission voted to approve text amendments to Articles 1, 2 and 3 of the zoning ordinance after staff and advisory-committee review and on-the-record clarifications.

Article 1: Amendments clarify attendance and vacancy procedures for advisory boards, adding a recommended process to notify governing bodies if a member misses four meetings in a 12-month period and incorporating the statutory 60‑day fill requirement. The language discussed during the meeting frames removal recommendations as advisory to the appointing governing body rather than automatic.

Article 2: The commission approved multiple updated definitions to reflect the 2025 comprehensive plan and to remove outdated or ambiguous terms. Staff added a targeted definition for "tiny home" (unit equal to or less than 400 square feet) and a definition for "pedestrian shed" to support walkability-related standards referenced in the comprehensive plan.

Article 3: The commission adopted a reorganization and clarity edits for zoning procedures and added a requirement that an approved zoning permit and its approval number be obtained before a building permit is issued; the zoning permit must list any additional approvals or reviews the applicant will need (for example, health-department approvals or plat-based deed restrictions noted on the plat).

Commissioners discussed whether certain uses (for example, large data centers) should be addressed elsewhere in the ordinance; staff noted those specific-use standards are usually placed in Article 5 and flagged data centers as an item for future consideration.

The amendments were approved as amended during the meeting and will move to the governing bodies required for final adoption per the joint ordinance process.