2017-27 Amending Zoning Ordinance Section XII. B-2 Commercial District

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STAFF REPORT Decatur City Plan Commission COMMON NAME: City of Decatur Zoning Ordinance GENERAL INFORMATION Hearing Date May 4, 2017 Calendar No. 17-06 Requested Action Amendments to Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance#3512) Petitioner Billy Tyus, Assistant City Manager BACKGROUND The current City of Decatur Zoning Ordinance was adopted in May of 2002. Over time, Staff has determined certain amendments are necessary to 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. Specifically amendments to SECTION XII. B-2 Commercial District and SECTION XXV. Signage. The proposed amendments will add to the list of conditional uses in the B-2 Commercial District and provide for an increase in allowable height and area for interstate signs. DESCRIPTION One of the proposed amendments is to allow for animal kennels by a conditional use permit in the 13- 2 Commercial District. Like animal clinic/hospitals, they are currently a permitted use in the M-1 Intense Commercial/Light Industrial District provided that the outdoor kennels not be located less than 100 feet from a residential district. The proposed amendment is to make animal kennels consistent with the animal clinic/hospital that is permitted in the B-2 Commercial District with a conditional use permit provided that outdoor kennels not be located less than 100 feet from a residential district. The proposed amendments to the Signage section will allow for interstate signs to increase the maximum area to 900 square feet and increase the maximum height to 170 feet. This would only be for those signs located within 250 feet of the interstate. From a land use perspective, the change could help to increase commercial and economic development opportunities along the interstate, with increased economic development being a goal of the Decatur community,providing increased visibility for potential shoppers. Also, there are often natural barriers located along interstates, including tall trees and the fact that adjacent developable land is sometimes found at a lower elevation than the interstate which means that taller, sometimes larger signage is needed for it to be effective from certain distances. The current allowances are 60 feet in maximum height and 200 square feet in area.