Council member Atherley to give Planning & Zoning draft to rewrite chapter 5 zoning rules

Council member Tony Atherley said Planning & Zoning will start a rewrite of the municipal code, beginning with chapter 5, which covers zoning districts and many building‑permit provisions. He told the council the commission plans to take a draft framework from him, redline it and return it to the council for review and a vote.

"I'm gonna give them a draft, kinda, you know, get them pointed in the right direction," Atherley said, describing the draft as a framework the commission would fill in. He said the intent is to combine original ordinances and later amendments, remove contradictions and make the code clear and easy to follow so enforcement is consistent across time.

Atherley and other council members discussed specific changes under consideration: raising an exemption threshold for small accessory structures, clarifying when fences require permits, and whether temporary or minor projects could be handled administratively rather than requiring repeated appearances before planning bodies. The council agreed the commission should begin with chapter 5 and return proposed language for the council to consider and, if necessary, ask for revisions before final adoption.

The rewrite is intended to reduce variability caused by turnover and ad hoc interpretations over decades and to make the process more accessible for residents who need permits.