Use‑table review: commission weighs group‑living rules, downtown uses, cell towers and short‑term rentals

The commission surveyed an extensive set of use‑table topics including mixed‑use downtown allowances, group‑living regulations, telecommunication towers, short‑term rental counts and food‑truck enforcement. Staff noted some downtown and mixed‑use districts currently restrict medical and certain retail uses and recommended cleaning up the table to better reflect the intended walkable downtown character.

On group living, staff reminded the commission that community homes for persons with disabilities are required to be separated by 0.5 mile under local standards and that definitions hinge on resident counts; staff said homes with seven or more residents are subject to different requirements. Commissioners raised enforcement challenges when noncompliant group homes or day‑care operations exist in neighborhoods and asked staff about code enforcement and fire marshal roles.

Telecommunication towers were noted as moved from a special use requirement to limited use standards; commissioners expressed concern about landscaping and long delays to final permits at some existing tower sites. On short‑term rentals, staff said they have identified between roughly "47 and the high fifties" listings citywide and that the finance director is exploring third‑party vendor services to track unregistered short‑term rentals and consider budgeted enforcement in the coming year. Commissioners also flagged the food‑truck ordinance (vendors must move every five days) as difficult to enforce and discussed the idea of a centralized food‑truck court.