2016-69 AMENDING ZONING ORDINANCE - SECTION II. DEFINITIONS

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STAFF REPORT Decatur City Plan Commission COMMON NAME: City of Decatur Zoning Ordinance GENERAL INFORMATION Hearing Date September 23, 2016 Catenc3ar No. 16-29 Requested Action Amendments to Zoning 4rdinance (Ordinance#3512} Petitioner Billy Tyus,Assistant City Manager SACKGRDUND The current City of Decatur Zoning Ord'znance was adopted in May of 2002. Since the time of adoption, Staff has discovered certain necessazy changes, discrepancies and omissions as the new ordinance has been implemented, specifically zn SECTION II. Definitions, SECTION XV. Signage and SECTION XVIII. Landscaping and Exterior Lighting. It is Sta.£fls hope that these changes and clarifications will ma�Ce the Zoning Ordinance more coz�aprehensive and applicahle to the changing built urbaz� environrnent all the while keepzng the charge of making Decatux a beautiful place to live, work and play. The proposed amendments rvill make clarifications in definitions and when an affected property owner can agree not have a minimum distance to an electronic message unit and/or a required buffer yard. DESCRIPTI�N One of the proposed amendments is to clarify how the floor area is calculated in the definition of Accessory Building, Structure or Use. The definition witl change so that the aggregate ground floor area of all accessory buildings does not exceed the ground floor area of the main building. The proposed amendments to the Signage section will a1low electronic message units, and other signs with exterior brill'zant lighting, internuttent,rotating or flashing lights to be located less than 1��feet to a residential district and/or use w�ith a recorded written agreement between the owner of the property such sign is located and the pz'operty owner{s)within 100 feet of the signage. Another proposed amendment is to a11ow for a recorded written agreement between property owners that would waive the requirement of a buffer yard. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends approval of the annendments as proposed. PLAN COMMISSION ACTION Section XXIX.G.of�e Zoning Ordinance requires the Plan Commission to hold a public hearing and make recommendations to the City Council on aanendments to the Zaning �rdinance. A motion to forward Calendar Number 16-29 to City Council with a recommendation of approval is suggested. The ahove report constitutes the testimony and recommendation of the Division of Planning and Sustainability,Department of Planning a�d Building Services, City of Decatur. ATTACHMENTS 1. Petition 2. Mark Up