Decatur staff outlines proposed commercial infill policy, to go before council June 22

City building staff presented a proposed commercial infill policy to the Decatur Board of Adjustments on June 15 and said the plan will be taken to the City Council on June 22 for consideration. The policy would mirror elements of a residential infill program adopted in July 2025 but sets a higher private-investment threshold for commercial projects.

The proposed criteria require qualifying commercial projects to be located inside the Decatur city limits and to represent at least $100,000 in private improvements (land acquisition is excluded). Incentives described by the presenter include reimbursement of up to 50% of application, permit and inspection fees and reimbursement of up to 50% of applicable impact fees for qualifying uses. The presenter said, "We plan on taking this back before City Council on the June 22, to get that policy approved and get it in place and start using it." The policy also would allow regulatory flexibility — such as variances or special exceptions — and a streamlined permit-review path where state rules allow.

Staff emphasized the program's reporting requirements: projects approved under the policy, the total incentives issued, and assessed property-value impacts will be reported to City Council. The presenter told the board that the residential infill program, adopted July 2025, has six approved applications representing $1,620,000 in improvements, and the commercial policy was designed to build on that framework. The board had no formal vote on the policy at this meeting; staff sought feedback before the council presentation.