Lowell finishes major municipal code update, launches searchable online codification; council checks accessibility compliance

City Administrator Max Baker told the council the city has completed the final module of a substantial municipal code codification and update, describing it as one of the largest such projects the city has undertaken in some time. The update covers the downtown master plan, new building standards, zoning consolidations from a mass rezoning, ADU standards, downtown development requirements, FEMA flood plan updates and a new building-department fee schedule. Baker demonstrated the new online municipal code system on the city's website (lowelloregon.gov), showing that users can search the code, print, email, and download sections in Word format and also compare prior versions to the current text.