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Council members fault administration after 185‑page zoning draft is posted; town halls planned
Summary
Council members criticized the administration’s release of a 185‑page zoning draft they said the Economic Development Committee had not reviewed. Mayor announced two town halls and posted the draft for public review; committee chair said members will reconvene to assess changes.
Vice‑Mayor Michele Weiss called the University Heights City Council meeting to order Sept. 2, where a central dispute emerged over the administration’s release of a new zoning code draft.
Councilmember John Rach said the Economic Development Committee had not been shown the 185‑page draft posted on the city website and that committee members had been working from an earlier 48‑page draft. "None of the changes that we had suggested made it to the draft," Rach said, adding he had learned of the posting less than three hours before the meeting and could not give the draft a substantive review.
Mayor Brennan defended the administration’s decision to post the latest draft and to schedule two public town halls, saying delays by the committee left the administration with little choice. He said the draft reflected consultant updates and staff revisions intended to move the project forward after months of limited committee progress. "We are going to have a public meeting on the 30th of September, we are going to have a public meeting on the 30th of October," the mayor said, urging public engagement.
Councilmember Winifred Weizer echoed concerns about transparency and urged residents to review the draft and submit comments. Several council members characterized the disagreement as procedural: committee chairs and administration staff disputed whether committee feedback had been incorporated and whether the committee had been given adequate materials and time.
What happened: the administration posted a new zoning code draft on Sept. 2 and scheduled town halls for Sept. 30 and Oct. 30; the Economic Development Committee planned an immediate follow‑up meeting to review redline changes and reconcile differences.
Why it matters: zoning code changes can reshape permitted uses, building form, and development review in ways that affect neighborhoods, property owners and developers. Council members said they want to ensure committee input and resident comment inform any final changes.
What’s next: The Economic Development Committee will meet Sept. 3 to begin reviewing the posted materials; the administration will host two town hall meetings for public presentation and comment. Any formal code change would still require Council approval.
