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Council OKs five‑week extension for zoning‑ordinance draft and plans working session on setbacks, ADUs
Summary
The council granted a requested extension to June 30 for the zoning-ordinance project and agreed to schedule a working session to focus on priority items such as setbacks, accessory buildings, and accessory dwelling units (ADUs). The extension is intended to preserve product quality and allow targeted ordinance revisions in the near term.
The Nowthen City Council voted May 12 to extend the planner’s deadline for the comprehensive zoning-ordinance draft to June 30, giving the contractor an additional five weeks to deliver a quality draft rather than rushing completion by the original May 20 date.
Clerk Natalie Johnson explained the contract’s timeline (a November 20 start with a six-month window originally ending May 20) and said the planner requested a short extension. Council members expressed concern that forcing an earlier deadline could reduce the quality of work and agreed that targeted ordinance fixes could be pursued sooner through dedicated working sessions.
Council members identified a short list of priority topics they want addressed first: setback requirements and their impact on accessory buildings, rules governing accessory dwelling units (ADUs), and nuisance codes (including barking-dog enforcement). Several members said the city’s current rules are more restrictive than state statute in places and that modest relaxations could encourage property improvements and additional tax base while preserving neighborhood character.
The council instructed staff to schedule a working session in June to review those "sticky" items and asked the planner to bring draft language or a set of recommended edits. Staff and several council members also discussed inviting a subject-matter expert (external planner or legal consultant) to advise on ordinance language during that working session.
The motion to extend the zoning timeline to June 30 passed by voice vote. Council members said they would pursue narrow, practical ordinance changes where feasible before finalizing the full code update.
