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Clerk refers parking-definition fix to planning commission to avoid counting kitchens and freezers
Summary
Council clerk referred a zoning-code wording change to the planning commission to replace "gross leasable area" with "customer service area" for parking calculations so kitchen and freezer spaces are not counted; planning commission will review in July and return a recommendation to council.
Council clerk Kristen notified members that a referral would go to the planning commission to correct a drafting issue in the city's zoning code. The 2020 revision inadvertently used "gross leasable area" for parking calculations; staff and a potential applicant identified that the term included kitchen and freezer space and led to inflated parking requirements for restaurants and retail.
Kristen said the proposed change would restore the code language to "customer service area," which excludes non-customer spaces such as freezers or kitchen areas from the parking calculation. The referral will go to the planning commission for its July meeting; the commission will make a recommendation and any zoning amendment would return to council for formal action.
Council members indicated a committee meeting could be scheduled for more detailed discussion but generally agreed the referral to planning commission was appropriate. No vote on the zoning text change was taken at this meeting; the matter is proceeding through the planning-review process.
Next steps: planning commission review in July and a subsequent council hearing and vote on any recommended amendment.
