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ECONOMIC AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT MEMORANDUM <br /> No. 09-50 <br /> July 15, 2009 <br /> TO: Honorable Mayor Michael T. McElroy d City Council <br /> FROM: Ryan P. McCrady, City Manager <br /> Greg C. Crowe, Assistant City Manage <br /> Suzan M. Stickle, Senior Planner <br /> Stephanie E. Ashe,Historic Preservation and Corridors Planner <br /> l�6, <br /> SUBJECT: Amendments to Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance#3512) <br /> SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the amendments to the City of <br /> Decatur Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance #3512) as proposed. The City Plan Commission voted 7-0 to <br /> recommend approval of this petition as amended at the July 2, 2009 hearing; the minutes of the <br /> meeting are attached. <br /> The current City of Decatur Zoning Ordinance was adopted in May of 2002. Since the time of <br /> adoption, Staff has discovered certain necessary changes, discrepancies and omissions as the new <br /> ordinance has been implemented, specifically in SECTION II. DEFINITIONS; SECTION XVI. M-1 <br /> INTENSE COMMERCIAL — LIGHT INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT; SECTION XVII. M-2 HEAVY <br /> INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT; and SECTION XXVIII. LANDSCAPING AND EXTERIOR <br /> LIGHTING. It is Staff's hope that these changes will make the Zoning Ordinance more <br /> comprehensive and applicable to the changing built urban environment all the while keeping the <br /> charge of making Decatur a beautiful place to live, work and play. <br /> BACKGROUND: The recycling definition is more specific and will allow for smaller and less <br /> intensive recycling functions in the M-1 District as a permitted use. The Landscaping and Exterior <br /> Lighting Section is being amended to give more flexibility to those petitioners seeking alternative <br /> compliance for landscaping. This will now allow for all parking lot setbacks to be varied due to <br /> unique circumstances by providing twenty percent (20%) more landscaping points, subject to the <br /> approval of the Director of Economic and Urban Development. Also, this amendment allows an <br /> appeal process of the Director's decision on alternative compliance through the Zoning Board of <br /> Appeals. Lastly, the Department of Engineering and Infrastructure was approved by Council to <br /> change the Department's name to the Public Works Department. <br /> POTENTIAL OBJECTION: There were no objectors present at the Plan Commission Meeting. <br /> INPUT FROM OTHER SOURCES: N/A. <br /> STAFF REFERENCE: Any additional questions may be forwarded to Stephanie Ashe at 424-2781 <br /> or at sashe@decaturil.gov. <br /> BUDGET/TIME IMPLICATIONS: None. <br />