2016-69 AMENDING ZONING ORDINANCE - SECTION II. DEFINITIONS

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Excerpts from Plan Commission Meeting of Segtember 23,2016: Cal.No. 16-29 Petition of BILLY TYUS, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, for amendments to the City of Decatur Zoning Ordinance Section IT.-Definitions, Section XXV.B.2.-Si�nage-Genexally-Flashing Signs, Section XXV,B.9.b.-Signage-Generally- Electronic Message Unit Signs and Seetion XXVIII.E.3.-Landscaping and Exterior Lighting- Determination of Requirements-Buffer Yards. Ms. Stickle presented th.e recommendation of staff: Tlae cur�rent City af Decatur Zoning Ordinance vvas adopted in May of 2002. Since the time of adoptian, Staff has discovered certain necessary changes, discrepancies and omissions as the new ordinance has been implemented, specificaliy in SECTION II. Definitions, SECTION XXV. Signage and SECTTON XXVIII. Landscaping and Exterior Lighting. It is Staf'f's hope that these changes and clarifications will make the Zoning Ordinance znore comprehensive and applicable to the changing built urban environment ali the while keeping the charge af making Decatur a beautiful place to live, work a.�nd play. The proposed arnendments will make clarifications in definitions and when an affected property owner(s) can agree nat have a minimum distance to an electronic message unit and/or a required buffer yard. 4ne of the proposed arnendments is to clarify how the floor area is calculated zn the definition of Accessory Building, Structure or Use. The definition will change so that the aggregate ground floor area of all accessory buildizzgs does not exceed the ground floor axea of the main building. The proposed amendments to the Signage seciion will allow electronic message units, and other signs wi�li exterior brilliant Iighting, intermittent,rotating or flashing lights to be located less than 100 feet to a residential district and/or use with a recorded written agreement between the owner of khe property such sign is located and the property ovvner(s}wzthirz l OQ feet of the signage. Another proposed amendment is to allow for a recorded wxitten agreement between property owner(s)that woutd wai�ve the requirernen� of a buffer yard. Staff recommends approval of the amendments�s proposed. Section XXIX.G. of the Zoning Ordinance requires the Plan Cammission to hold a public hearing and make recommendations to the City Council on amendments to the Zoning Ordinance. A motion to forward Calendar Nt�mber 16-29 to City Council with a recommendation of approval is suggested. Mr. Kent Newton asked if this meant that an accessory structure could not be Iarger than the main structure. Ms. Stickle stated the aggregate ground floor area of a11 accessory buildings cannat exceed the aggregate ground floor area of the znain building. There were no obj ectors present. It was moved and seconded {Frantz/Hazris) to forward Calendar No. 16-29 to the City Councii with a recommendation for approvai. Motion carried unanimously.