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Board discusses adding 'unlisted uses' classification and aligning county campaign-sign rules with state guidance
Summary
Staff proposed a zoning provision for 'unlisted uses' to give the Board of Adjustment discretion to treat similar but unnamed uses as permitted or conditional, and a campaign-sign provision mirroring state law (e.g., limiting display before absentee voting and requiring removal after election); members debated flexibility versus subjectivity and next steps.
County planning staff presented two related ordinance topics: a proposed 'unlisted uses' classification in the general district provisions to let the Board of Adjustment determine if a use not specifically listed is sufficiently similar to an allowed use, and updated campaign-sign language based on state statute for municipalities adapted for county application. Amber explained the 'unlisted uses' language as a formalized process so staff and the board would not need to return repeatedly to amend the ordinance for every nuanced use. "In order to ensure that the zoning ordinance will permit all similar uses in each district, The Board of Adjustment upon its own initiative or upon written application shall determine whether a use not specifically listed...shall be deemed a permitted accessory or conditional use," she said.
On signage, staff recommended county rules mirror the municipal timeline the state statute uses — allowing campaign signs to be displayed beginning no earlier than 10 days before absentee voting opens and requiring removal within five days after election day. Board members discussed concerns that the 'unlisted uses' approach adds subjectivity to decision-making and debated safeguards to avoid gradually eroding enumerated uses; staff said the Board of Adjustment would still be the decision-maker and could refer difficult cases to an ordinance amendment when needed.
