12-12-2019 Planning Commission Packet

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City of Little Canada 2-30 Land Use Plan Improvements to the Zoning Code The Land Use Plan is a guide to the zoning code, which is the law that the City uses to regulate land use and site development. The land use plan is a general policy while the zoning code is much more specific. The zoning code indicates, among other items:  Permissible types of land use in each of the several districts that are shown on the zoning map.  Dimensional regulations such as the minimum building setback or maximum building height.  Certain site improvements deemed necessary for the general welfare of the community, such as landscaping. The land use plan is part of the comprehensive plan, which is adopted by the City Council by resolution. The zoning code is often used in conjunction with the subdivision code, which is the law that the City uses to regulate the legal division of land parcels. The City Planning Commission and City staff have found that the zoning code has faults that make it ambiguous, silent on important questions, difficult to use and somewhat antiquated. Indications that the zoning code may be inadequate include:  Frequent reliance on the “planned-unit development” provision of the zoning code  Granting numerous variances  Regulating many commonplace land uses as “conditional” uses. Therefore, it is recommended that the zoning code be thoroughly examined for improvements after this comprehensive plan is adopted. This should involve the Council appointing a project committee consisting of members of the Planning Commission, residents, and owners of commercial, industrial and multiple-family residential property. Subjects that may be examined include but are not limited to:  Commercial development  Industrial development  Medium-density housing  Higher-density housing  The planned-unit development district  All conditional uses listed  Landscaping and visual screening. In addition to the binding, legal requirements of the zoning code, the City adopted in 1998 and 2010 a set of advisory guidelines addressing commercial site planning, building architecture, landscaping and lighting. However, it does not appear that they have been followed.