Planning staff outline zoning-code rewrite, propose consolidating nine residential districts into four

Charlie Griffith of the city planning staff briefed the council on a comprehensive zoning-code rewrite intended to make the code more usable and consistent with the newly updated comprehensive plan.

Griffith said the existing code (last major update in 2001) contains numerous nonconforming properties and overly detailed lists of permitted uses. Staff and consultants are proposing a reorganization that would reduce the number of residential districts from nine to four (plus a mixed-use commercial district), relax some dimensional requirements to reduce nonconformity, and create clearer design and administrative standards.

He said the draft includes maps and examples for each proposed district and noted that large portions of the central city are nonconforming under the current code; for example, a majority of properties in some multifamily districts do not meet current lot or width requirements. Griffith invited council members and the public to a joint Plan Commission/Council meeting on Oct. 29 to review building-design, access, mobility and landscaping standards and to ask questions.

Council members asked whether consolidation would discourage developers; Griffith said the intent of the rewrite is greater flexibility and predictability that should facilitate development by reducing the need for variances and plan approvals.

The council received the report for further review and was encouraged to attend the Oct. 29 joint meeting.