Midway council opens code rewrite for Main Street: staff seeks direction on C2/C3 boundaries, setbacks and design

Midway city planners on May 19 presented a multi-part zoning review aimed at aligning code with the 2022 general plan and guiding future development along Main Street.

Michael (speaker S8), staff lead on the presentation, reviewed the purpose of the general plan and explained that code and zoning map changes require a formal public‑notice process and Planning Commission review before council action. He described the transient rental overlay district (TROD), noted the city will need to mail notices to properties affected by rezoning and cautioned that master-planned developments (such as the South Hill/Lester project) complicate map edits because master plans can supersede underlying zoning until a developer seeks change.

The bulk of the discussion focused on differences between the C2 and C3 commercial zones, where staff has already removed many car‑oriented and big‑box uses and set size limits to preserve a smaller, pedestrian‑oriented Main Street. Council members debated whether to expand the C3 walkable core around the town square, how to treat boundary “notches” in the map and how to balance encouraging shared parking without encouraging broad paved lots that change the street character.

On urban design, staff proposed raising the front setback minimum (current code: minimum 10 feet, maximum 30), with council discussion leaning toward a 15–20 foot front setback for new construction while allowing covered porches or overhangs to encroach up to 5 feet to retain a porch-lined, walkable frontage. Council discussed side and rear setbacks to protect adjacent residential lots: staff noted existing rules often require 15 feet from commercial to residential rear property lines, while residential rear setbacks commonly run 30 feet. Council expressed concern that asymmetrical setbacks can disadvantage residents and asked staff to consider fairness and incentives.

Council members and staff also discussed incentives to preserve historic homes—reduced driveway width (20 feet for historic structures versus 24 feet standard), flexibility to allow parking behind buildings, and use of the VAC (visual/architectural committee) or similar review to maintain Main Street character. Michael asked for direction on a package of numeric choices and design options; council generally signaled support for higher front setbacks, modest porch encroachments, 10‑foot side setbacks in many cases and continued use of incentives to encourage preservation. Staff will draft code language and bring it to the Planning Commission and subsequent public hearings.