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Council approves zoning change to ease residential driveway rules after debate
Summary
Petersburg City Council adopted a zoning-text amendment to clarify residential off-street parking rules, exempting single‑family/duplex driveways from striping and curbing requirements and allowing paved front-yard area to exceed 35% when minimum parking dimensions cannot otherwise be met. The measure passed 6–1 after members raised concerns about neighborhood appearance and enforcement.
Petersburg City Council on Wednesday approved a text amendment to Article 19 of the city zoning ordinance that changes design standards for residential off‑street parking.
Planning Director Jared Cruz told the council the edits are intended to eliminate confusing or contradictory language that has delayed development reviews. He said the amendment would exempt single‑family and two‑family driveways from requirements to install curbs and stripe parking spaces, and would allow a paved surface to exceed 35% of a front yard when minimum parking dimensions cannot otherwise be met. “Our goal with this is to get rid of those overly complicated rules that are causing the delays,” Cruz said.
Council members questioned how the change would affect neighborhood character and enforcement. Councilmember Coburn said he was concerned the amendment could make it easier for front yards to become mostly impervious surface: “I don’t think that’s the look that we want for the city of Petersburg,” he said. Councilmember Westbrook asked how accessory dwelling units and lots that already have large paved areas would be treated, and whether more visuals should be shown to the public before adopting the amendment.
Councilmember Jones, who moved to approve the ordinance, said the changes mostly align the written rules with longstanding practice and avoid forcing small lots into a lengthy appeals process. The planning staff reported the board of zoning appeals has been issuing many special exceptions and that the rewrite aims to reduce that administrative burden.
The measure passed on a roll‑call vote: Ayes — Council members Cuthbert, Jones, Myers, Smith Lee, Vice Mayor Hill and Mayor Samuel Perham; No — Councilmember Westbrook. The amendment directs staff to implement the clarified standards while staff continues a full zoning ordinance rewrite.
The city will retain the existing prohibition against parking on unpaved portions of a front yard; the amendment clarifies when paved areas may be sized to meet minimum off‑street parking dimensions, staff said. Councilmembers said they may revisit the language if community feedback identifies issues after implementation.
