Mendon planners forward revised general plan to city council after edits on zoning and landscaping

Mendon City Planning and Zoning reviewed and approved forwarding a revised general plan to Mendon City Council on May 21 after the commission made a series of wording and scope edits aimed at keeping regulatory detail in the zoning ordinance rather than the general plan.

Members debated the appropriate level of specificity in the general plan's text for light-industrial uses and commercial zoning. Staff and commissioners recommended removing a list of disallowed uses from the general plan and instead having the zoning ordinance specify permitted and non-permitted uses. "The revised general plan recommends that the city council revise the zoning ordinance to disallow the following uses," a planning staff member said, and commissioners agreed that the general plan should state the intent while leaving specific prohibitions to the ordinance.

The commission also simplified landscaping language. Rather than listing trees, shrubbery and widths, members agreed to a concise phrasing that commercial and residential-commercial zones should include "landscaping designed to make these areas attractive," while recognizing the need to encourage drought- or water-wise plantings in Mendon's climate. Commissioners clarified that "heavy landscape screening" is intended to mean plantings or other screening to obscure automobile headlights.

After final edits, a motion to forward the revised general plan to Mendon City Council for review and input was made, seconded by Kelly Barra, and carried on a voice vote. The commission then adjourned.

Next steps: the revised general plan will be transmitted to Mendon City Council; code changes reflecting the plan's recommendations will need separate drafting and approval by the council and potentially additional public hearings.