2010-34 AMENDING ZONING ORDINANCE - ZONING ADMINISTRATOR - DEPARTMENT NAME CHANGE

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Excerpts from Plan Commission Minutes of May 6,2010: Cal.No. 10-09 Petition of GREG C. CROWE, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, for amendments to the City of Decatur Zoning Ordinance (Ord. #3512, as amended). Ms. Suzy Stickle was sworn in by Mrs. Poland. Ms. Stickle presented the recommendation of staff: The current City of Decatur Zoning Ordinance was adopted in May of 2002. Since the time of adoption, Staff has discovered certain necessary changes, discrepancies and omissions as the new ordinance has been implemented, specifically in SECTION II. DEFINITIONS. It is Staff's hope that these changes will make the Zoning Ordinance more comprehensive and applicable to the changing built urban environment all the while keeping the charge of making Decatur a beautiful place to live, work and play. The intent of adding a definition for Zoning Administrator will help keep the Zoning Ordinance consistent in the event departmental name changes occur with the ease of just changing the definition to reflect any changes in Department names. Currently, the Ordinance has multiple places where the Director of the Department is listed in the administrator capacity and it has not always been changed correctly. With this definition, the only change necessary in the future will be in the Definitions section of the Ordinance. Staff recommends the following amendment: Amend SECTION II. (Definitions) by adding: "ZONING ADMINISTRATOR: The Director of the Department of Planning and Building Services or his/her designee who is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Zoning Ordinance." Additionally, in all locations within the Zoning Ordinance where it currently reads "Department of Economic and Urban Development" it shall be corrected to now read "Department of Planning and Building Services" and in all locations where it currently reads "Director of Economic and Urban Development" it shall be corrected to now read"Zoning Administrator". Staff recommends approval of the amendments as proposed. Section XXIX.G. of the Zoning Ordinance requires the Plan Commission to hold a public hearing and make recommendations to the City Council on amendments to the Zoning Ordinance. A motion to forward Calendar Number 10-09 to City Council with a recommendation of approval is suggested. There were no questions and no objectors present. It was moved and seconded (Edwards/Anderson) to forward Cal. No. 10-09 to the City Council with recommendation for approval as presented by staff. Motion carried unanimously.