Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Development Code topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning commission forwards draft land-development-code amendments to city commission
Summary
After months of drafting, the Marquette Planning Commission voted to forward proposed land-development-code changes — including lot-coverage clarifications, new allowances for small patio encroachments, mobile food-vending exemptions and a 10% cap on required parking used for snow storage — to the city commission for consideration.
The Marquette Planning Commission on June 22 voted to forward an extensive set of draft Land Development Code (LDC) amendments to the city commission after a public hearing and months of internal drafting.
Planning staff told the commission the packet contained roughly an 80-page draft reflecting work since November 2025. Key proposals include clarifying maximum lot-coverage calculations (including exempting driveways and accessory parking in some districts), permitting small patio and walkway encroachments of up to 100 square feet when made of pervious materials, changes to tentative parcel-map submittal rules, and provisions tied to an anticipated state allowance that would raise certain parcel-split limits effective 03/24/2027.
The commission also reviewed language on snow storage. Staff proposed changing a requirement to a discretionary allowance and adding a limit that snow storage not occupy more than 10% of required parking spaces. Commissioners debated the practical effect when parcels have more existing than required spaces, and whether the change effectively expands or preserves required parking during winter months.
On mobile vending, staff proposed two principal exceptions: permitting a restaurant to place an on-site mobile food-vending unit (MFU) on the same property without a separate special accessory-use permit, and allowing licensed MFUs to operate on property adjacent to city- or DDA-endorsed public events with organizer permission. Staff also said the sidewalk-cafe chapter references would be relocated within the code.
After discussion, the commission adopted a finding that the draft LDC amendments are consistent with the community master plan and comply with code section 54.1405, and voted to recommend approval by the city commission. Commissioners noted the drafts will require additional work with the city attorney, assessor and department heads before final city-commission action.
Next steps: the planning commission’s recommendation will be transmitted to the city commission for consideration; staff and commissioners said further attorney review and coordination on mixed-use applicability and parcel-split timing will continue.
