Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning Code Update topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City staff outlines zoning code update, city attorney recommends narrowing administrative adjustments
Summary
Planning staff reviewed recent city attorney comments on the draft zoning code: recommended removal of 'administrative adjustments' and the formal interpretation process, addition of clearer standards for planning commission exceptions, and objective standards for administrative site plan and architecture review; a joint plan commission/council working session is scheduled for Feb. 11.
Charlie, planning staff, updated the commission on attorney recommendations for the draft zoning code. The city attorney recommended removing the code category labeled “administrative adjustments” and deleting a formal written ‘interpretation’ process, arguing that routine communications with property owners already constitute code interpretation and that appeals should proceed to the planning commission or Board of Zoning Appeals as appropriate.
Staff said the attorney wanted clearer, narrower standards for exceptions that the planning commission might grant (for example, for screening or parking requirements) and for objective design standards so some administrative site plan and architecture reviews can be handled by staff. The proposed language would allow the planning commission to authorize a modification, waiver or reduction of specific requirements where strict compliance is impractical or unjust, but only to the least extent necessary and not in a way that is contrary to the purpose of the zoning ordinance.
Charlie said a joint plan commission–council working session to present the full code is scheduled for Feb. 11; staff hopes to have a recommendation ready for the regular plan commission meeting later in February.
