Planning Commission OKs condensed version of earlier proposals, scraps citizen advisory committee
By BECKY THOMAS
Staff Reporter
Last week the Cheney Planning Commission approved a plan to redo the city's zoning and development code.
The final timeline, ending in completion of a new Unified Development Code and zoning map early next summer, includes several opportunities for the public to voice their views on the code at meetings. However, it scraps an earlier plan to form a citizen advisory committee that would have been consulted throughout the process of identifying problems in the current code, finding solutions and drafting a new code.
The commission-approved plan is a condensed version of earlier proposals—the first draft plan spanned three years and included most city regulations related to development. The final plan spans 18 months (starting this past February) and does not address some areas of development, including the sign code and critical areas ordinance that deals with natural areas.
“A lot of people have comments and feelings about signage and how it needs to be dealt with,” said Community Development director Brian Jennings. “We felt that introducing something like that into this process could and would probably slow down the overall project…This time around we wanted to focus just on those critical zoning districts as well as the organization.”
Jennings and city planner Brett Lucas began drafting the work plan in February, and they brought the seventh version before the commission for final approval April 9. They said the plan was tweaked and pared down at the direction of city leaders to address the most critical issues with the code.
“We wanted to approach this as, what's the most current, critical need and what can we get done?” City Administrator Arlene Fisher said at the meeting. “Because the code has been a difficult policy document for the entire city.”
Jennings and Lucas are currently completing a report on the problems with the zoning code, and the public process will launch with two open houses in May (dates have not been announced). Public hearings would also be held during Planning Commission meetings throughout the summer and fall, when sections of the code will be discussed individually as they are drafted. The plan sets the code completion at November, when it will go before the City Council for final approval.
Upon completion of the code, the city will draft a new zoning map to reflect the code changes. Jennings told the commission that the process would focus on keeping current property owners informed on any code changes that could affect their property.
“In a lot of areas there won't be any change. Some areas, there may be. It's hard to say. We can't predict that,” Jennings said, adding that staff would develop “test areas” to see how code changes might affect existing neighborhoods. The city would also send notifications to property owners whose property would be affected by the changes, inviting them to share comments in writing or at a meeting.
Without an advisory committee, Commissioner Keith Fauerso asked how the city would solicit input from builders and developers who have been frustrated by the current code.
“There've been a lot of developers over the years who have just thrown up their hands and said, ‘Forget it, I'm out of here,'” he said. “I would think we'd want to ask them how we can do better.”
Fisher said she expected the zoning issue to bring people out to share their opinions. Jennings said the city could host a meeting specifically for developers, but pointed to the list of open houses and public hearings scheduled throughout the next several months.
“The number of open houses and public meetings, we don't think we're limiting public input in any way,” he said.
The city will host more details on the code update on its website, http://www.cityofcheney.org.
Becky Thomas can be reached at [email protected].
Reader Comments(0)