Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning Nonconforming Uses topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council adopts ordinance allowing limited expansion of legal nonconforming uses with conditions
Summary
The Greenfield City Council unanimously adopted Ordinance 26-05, amending section 152.036 to allow permitted expansions of legal nonconforming uses subject to council-determined conditions; the council removed a commercial-specific clause and clarified that expansions must not negatively affect designated redevelopment districts.
The Greenfield City Council voted unanimously on July 7 to adopt Ordinance 26-05, an amendment to section 152.036 of the city code covering nonconforming uses, lots, structures and signs. The ordinance change clarifies that legal nonconforming situations can apply to both uses and structures and allows expansions through a permit process while protecting redevelopment objectives.
Planning commissioner Brad presented the revised draft and summarized the main changes: removing a numeric limit on how many expansions can be requested (each expansion requires a separate permit), excluding expansion approvals in designated redevelopment districts, and replacing a paved-road requirement with a test based on whether the roadway is designed to accommodate the traffic the expanded use would generate. Brad said the changes reflect council discussion at prior meetings and aim to balance property rights and redevelopment goals.
Council members questioned language that singled out "commercial" expansion; after discussion they amended the clause so the requirement reads that the subject property "must have access to a roadway designed to accommodate the level or magnitude of traffic generated by the proposed use, determined by the council." The revised language removes the narrow "commercial" qualifier and instead focuses on traffic impact, which council and staff said is the core concern.
The council then voted to adopt the ordinance and a related resolution authorizing publication of the ordinance summary (Resolution 26-36). The vote was unanimous.
What happens next: Staff will publish the ordinance by summary as authorized, and the updated code language will guide future permit reviews for legal nonconforming uses. Council members said further refinements or a work session could follow if members or residents identify issues in implementation.
