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Planners outline three key CBD text changes: setbacks, waiver approvals and limited ground-floor housing
Summary
Presenters said the proposed CBD text will raise Summit Avenue setbacks, move waiver approvals from the city manager to the planning and zoning commission, and allow rear ground-floor residential in some cases; these text amendments will return to the planning commission for review.
Planners told residents that the text of the proposed Central Business District will include three notable changes: increase the front-yard setback along Summit Avenue from 10 to 15 feet; move approval authority for administrative waivers from the city manager to the planning and zoning commission (retaining waivers as a relief mechanism rather than variances); and permit ground-floor residential units only at the rear of buildings, keeping ground-floor frontage commercial in public-facing locations.
"Our revision will include the waiver being approved by the planning zoning commission, but it will still be a waiver. It will not be a variance," Rebecca said, describing the intent to preserve a simpler administrative relief path for constrained downtown parcels while adding a public-review step.
Planners said the setback change and other design standards are intended to refine frontage and pedestrian experience but stressed that existing buildings are grandfathered and would not be forced to retrofit to new standards unless they proposed new construction or enlargement.
The code-text amendments will be taken back to the planning and zoning commission for direction and possible edits before staff forwards them to the city commission for a second reading and final action.
