Council approves one-year extension, but draft zoning code is expected this fall

ZCC Regular Session 

On May 6, 2010, City Council passed a resolution approving a one-year extension until June 30, 2011 for work on zoning reform. Nevertheless, the ZCC and its consultants are on track to release a final draft of the new zoning code this fall. Commission members are in the process of reviewing feedback on Modules 1 and 2, including draft provisions for general administration and procedures, zoning districts, and use categories. Module 3 on development standards will be available July 14, 2010. Based on responses gathered from online surveys, neighborhood meetings, written testimony, and ongoing discussions of the commission and its work groups, the ZCC must recommend changes and guide the consultants in producing a final draft for presentation to City Council. “It’s a lot of information to absorb,” chairman Alan Greenberger said, “but we need to get clarity about what is allowed where.”

Consultants described changes proposed to date for Module 1 – Administration and Procedures (see Change Memo PowerPoint) and opened the floor to questions and comments on Module 2 – Zoning Districts and Uses. To initiate the discussion, Owen Franklin of Portfolio Associates presented a civic engagement report (see PowerPoint presentation), which highlighted what the public thinks needs more attention by the ZCC, based on the latest round of public outreach:

• Development thresholds that trigger a neighborhood review and the weight of that community input on the decision process
• The potential for consolidated Neighborhood Commercial Corridor Overlay Districts to create generic corridors and put unique community characteristics at risk
• The preparedness of L&I staff to make use determinations under the new classification system and how transparent that process will be
• Proposed criteria for accessory dwellings that is considered too stringent

ZCC members and public attendees raised additional concerns:

• Limiting development thresholds that trigger neighborhood review to abutting parcels may be too narrow; perhaps consider impacts on blocks and adjacent blocks
• Identifying reform elements that belong in an administrative manual, rather than in the zoning code, to avoid the need for city council approval for minor changes
• Understanding neighborhood background before adjustments to districts and permitted uses are made in the new code
• PCPC notification when neighborhood project review meetings are triggered
• Ensuring new procedures are not too complicated or cumbersome
• How local neighborhood participation on the proposed Civic Design Review Committee is determined when multiple groups claim to represent a particular area
• Whether use variances will be more difficult to get under the new code and the criteria for establishing a reasonable economic use of a property

As the ZCC begins to analyze proposed new districts, Mr. Greenberger asked commission members to think about what uses should be specifically allowed or not allowed based on the impacts of that use, whether initial concerns can be addressed by development standards, and if some use-specific development standards are needed. “Module 2 is the backbone of the code,” Greenberger said. “The goal is to reduce the number of districts and overlays and take what makes sense from the overlay districts and apply it citywide.” Lead consultant Don Elliot of Clarion Associates added, “We attempted to create a simple foundation, but there is still a lot of district and use-specific stuff we’d like to slash. We are relying on you to cut what is no longer necessary.” The Work Plan Committee is preparing to form sub-groups and conduct more research on difficult issues, such as group living, eating/dining/entertainment uses, daycare facilities, and regulated uses.

To learn more about Module 2, see “New zoning districts and uses proposed” and “Public reaction to Module 2 – Zoning Districts and Uses” in the links below.