Planning Commission begins overhaul of Chapter 10-21 on noncomplying buildings

The Springdale Planning Commission on Jan. 7 began work to implement Town Council direction to revise Chapter 10-21 of the Town Code, which governs repair and refurbishment of legally noncomplying buildings. Director of Community Development Thomas Dansie framed the issue: buildings that were legal when built can become noncomplying after later code changes, and the central questions are what constitutes 'removal' and how broadly the code should allow 'ordinary maintenance and repair.'

Commissioners reviewed six hypothetical scenarios covering residential and commercial properties. The body generally agreed on a set of guiding principles: property owners may rebuild within an existing footprint without being forced to meet every current standard, repairs needed to make a building safe should be allowed when documented, and expansions or design changes beyond ordinary maintenance should require compliance with current zoning standards. The Commission directed staff to draft ordinance language reflecting those principles and to explore incentives and phased approaches to encourage greater compliance over time.

"The current code allowed a property owner to perform 'ordinary maintenance and repair' to keep the structure safe, sanitary, and habitable," Dansie told the commission as he introduced the scenarios. He and staff will return with proposed ordinance language for the Commission's further review.