Planning Commission Regular Meeting

Detailed briefing

PLANNING COMMISSION — AUGUST 21, 2025 ATTENDEES: Eight commissioners were present at the opening roll call; Tony Johnson was initially absent but later participated. Mayor Tom Grant also attended. • The commission approved the July 17, July 31, and August 14 meeting minutes. Two capitalization corrections were identified before the vote, and no opposition was recorded. • Commissioners set proposed shed limits at 200 square feet and 12 feet in height. The smaller-shed category is intended to qualify for a five-foot setback, while larger accessory buildings would follow the regular accessory-building rules. The commission retained the proposed 10-foot rear setback for larger accessory buildings. Discussion indicated that additions to existing nonconforming structures should be evaluated by building footprint, allowing a second story without expanding the nonconforming footprint. • The commission declined to give an EV charging space credit as two required parking spaces. Members expressed concern that doing so could reduce the actual number of spaces available and shift parking pressure elsewhere. • Commissioners supported combining the existing R1B and R1C residential districts. They also retained co-living as a special land use in RA, R1A, the combined R1B, and R2. Proposed co-living standards discussed include a six-person maximum, one person per bedroom, one parking space per person, and 1,200 feet between facilities, in addition to the broader special-use review standards. • Several use-table changes were accepted: automotive service stations would be removed from the central business district; lodging establishments would be allowed as a special use in B1; and general retail would be permitted in B1. Cemeteries would remain a special use in the residential-agricultural district. Sign regulations will be handled through a separate ordinance after the zoning-code work. • The commission agreed that planned developments should be available in most zoning districts, including waterfront and residential-agricultural areas, but excluded from industrial, community, and mobile-home-park districts. Each proposal would still require the planned-development review process and eventual City Council approval. • By roll-call vote, with no opposition recorded, the commission scheduled a public hearing on the draft zoning code for September 18 at 5:30 p.m. Five informal public open houses are planned for early September, using maps, code binders, and one-on-one discussion rather than a formal presentation. Worth watching: • Outdoor-display rules still need DDA feedback and final commission review. • The final draft should clarify when the administrative review committee applies, particularly outside shoreline-protection reviews. • Staff will prepare a high-level comparison between the current and proposed zoning codes for public review. Upcoming: Five zoning-code open houses in early September; public hearing September 18, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. Why it matters: The commission is nearing formal action on a citywide zoning rewrite that would change residential districts, permitted uses, development review, and property standards.

Agenda items

• 5A · Review outdoor display of goods languagediscussed
• 5B · Review draft Zoning Mapdiscussed
• 5C · Review draft Zoning Code - all articlesdiscussed
• 5D · Discuss September schedulediscussed

No open public follow-ups are linked to this meeting yet.

Related issues

• Zoning / Land Usediscussed