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Planning commission recommends co‑living code updates, discusses battery storage policy
Summary
The Covington Planning Commission recommended that council consider ordinance updates to align the municipal code with state House Bill 1998 to enable co‑living housing; commissioners also heard presentations and community input on siting and policy questions for battery energy storage systems.
The Covington Planning Commission recommended forwarding an ordinance to the City Council to update the municipal code in response to House Bill 1998 and to allow co‑living housing options in applicable zones, Planning Commission representative Domin said at the May 21 meeting and reported to council on May 26.
Domin said the proposed updates would revise definitions and key development standards — including permitted uses, density, parking, design review, affordable housing eligibility and impact fees — and add less‑restrictive compliance provisions intended to bring Covington Municipal Code into compliance with the new state requirements. "The commission conducted a public hearing and recommended forwarding an ordinance to city council to adopt the proposed code amendments," Domin told the council.
The commission also discussed battery energy storage systems (BESS). Domin said the meeting included presentations from PSSE and attendance by neighboring city representatives, who raised policy and code considerations for permitting distributed energy resources, particularly systems in the 1‑ to 5‑megawatt range. Commissioners and attendees focused on siting, safety standards, and local nuisance controls; Domin said the commission expects to provide more detailed recommendations to council after further review.
Why it matters: House Bill 1998 prompted the code review by requiring local codes to permit certain housing types and to adopt consistent standards. Changes to parking, density and design review could alter where and how co‑living units are developed in Covington, and BESS policy decisions could affect both local energy planning and neighborhood impacts.
No formal City Council action was recorded on May 26; the Planning Commission's recommendation is a referral to council for ordinance consideration. Council members asked for the commission's detailed recommendations and additional staff analysis before any ordinance hearing is scheduled.
What’s next: The Planning Commission will finalize recommendations and return materials to staff; council members requested staff follow‑up to place the ordinance and related BESS guidance on a future council agenda for formal consideration.
