Title
Discuss a potential amendment to the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance related to unlisted and undefined Uses.
Body
BACKGROUND:
The staff intends to amend the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (CZO) to address inconsistencies between the Use Table and Defined Terms sections. Presently, there are 204 listed uses in the Use Table, with 90 lacking corresponding definitions in Article 7, "Definitions." This lack of definition complicates matters for staff, who must then interpret the functions, purposes, and operations of these "uses." Such discretion can lead to confusion for applicants who struggle to find the most appropriate category for their projects. Moreover, disagreements with staff decisions are difficult to resolve without a clear definition to reference.
For uses with definitions but not listed in the Use Table, they are effectively disallowed in any zoning district. Our process for Planned Development District (PD) amendments mandates that "use" be defined in the CZO before they can be permitted, prohibited, or subjected to special exceptions within the PD. This discussion presents an opportunity to incorporate defined uses into PDs.
Furthermore, among the defined uses, some definitions may benefit from clarification. Staff routinely assesses definitions and allowable uses in neighboring municipalities, as well as through research from national planning organizations like the American Planning Association. Based on this research, staff will propose initial standards for discussing potential ordinance amendments.
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Staff Presentation