Commission reviews new local rules for drone staging areas, limits near sensitive sites

Planning staff told the commission the draft UDC adds new land-use definitions for unmanned aircraft, unmanned aircraft systems, and staging areas, and treats the staging area—the ground infrastructure for drones—as a land use that cities can regulate. “An unmanned aircraft is an aircraft operated without direct human intervention from within or on the aircraft,” staff said, then added that the city’s authority applies only to the land-use components, not to in-flight operations.

To limit neighborhood impacts, staff proposed prohibiting staging areas within 300 feet of residential uses, parks and hospitals unless the staging area serves the hospital. The draft would cap ground-mounted staging areas at 1,000 square feet or 10% of the lot area and would authorize a 10% reduction in required parking to accommodate drone infrastructure. Staff also suggested material and lighting standards for fenced staging areas and explicitly exempted police and fire operations from some restrictions for public-safety reasons.

Commissioners asked about federal oversight and sensitive infrastructure near a site the transcript names as "Leela." Staff replied that flight operations are governed by the FAA and that the dam site sits on Army Corps of Engineers land, limiting the city’s ability to restrict in-flight activity; the city can, however, control where ground infrastructure is sited.

Staff recommended forwarding the ordinance to council; the commission voted 7–0 to recommend approval.