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Zoning town hall draws 363 residents; businesses pause investment pending code changes
Summary
Economic Development Director Tessa Jackson said 363 residents responded to a zoning survey after a town hall that used crowd-sourced small group discussions; three prospective businesses signaled interest but are waiting for zoning changes because of parking and potential costs.
Economic Development Director Tessa Jackson told Council that a recent zoning-code town hall used small-group, crowd-sourced conversations and accompanying visual renderings to explain how setbacks and development standards would affect neighborhoods. She said the city’s resident survey received 363 responses and that those results will be shared with the Economic Development Committee and zoning subcommittee.
Jackson said three prospective businesses contacted the city about locations in University Heights but indicated they would "wait to see what happened with the zoning" because the current code raised parking and cost concerns. She said updated design standards and renderings help clarify what proposed setbacks and height limits look like in ordinary neighborhood contexts.
Councilman John Rach said he would place the survey results on the next zoning meeting agenda. Mr. Rach reiterated that municipal staff will review the redlines and draft Title I (general provisions) and Title II (zoning districts) of the Sept. 2 draft at a Nov. 10 meeting to gather further feedback.
Tessa Jackson asked that the presentation materials and the survey results be shared with committee members prior to the meeting. The exchange underscores how zoning technicalities — particularly parking minimums that are still tied to traditional sit-down restaurant models — can materially affect whether prospective small businesses choose to locate in University Heights.
