Council adopts Downtown Overlay District to ease setbacks, clarify downtown sign and parking rules

The Nixa City Council on July 28 approved an amended Downtown Overlay District intended to make redevelopment in the downtown core easier by allowing building alignments that match existing lot-line buildings, clarifying signage rules and adding mixed-use allowances.

Scott Godby, who presented the ordinance and the associated rezone, told the council the changes address problems with modern setbacks on older, small downtown lots and make the permitted use table less prescriptive so staff can review novel business proposals. "When staff was looking at those setbacks, we realized there was little confusion in the way it was written and also, it didn't have the proper setback for the side," Godby said. Planning and Zoning voted 4–0 to recommend approval and staff recommended adoption.

An amendment focusing on setback verbiage was moved and adopted after the council opened and closed a public hearing on the amendment. During the public hearing on the ordinance, resident Ron Sanders urged caution about heavy-handed redevelopment, raising concerns about eminent domain and displacement. Godby responded on the record that the overlay would not force residential property owners out and that legal nonconforming residential uses would be preserved. The council approved both the amended ordinance establishing the overlay and an accompanying ordinance placing the overlay on the zoning map by roll call.