13 - PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING UPDATE OF COMPONENTS OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE

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One of the key components of any comprehensive zoning ordinance is the definitions section. As you likely already know, our definitions are old and in many cases outdated, using vague language, omitting a number of modern uses, and no longer anticipating current development patterns and types. This can and has led to difficulties and confusion for staff, the commission, property owners, and potential developers and builders. To address these concerns, staff has re- written the entire definitions sections of the ordinance to update and modernize them, including revising existing definitions and adding new ones. Exhibit `B" indicates these new definitions sections. Exhibit `B" is divided into two sections, based on the organization of the Zoning Ordinance. Section 8 refers to definitions in the Use of Land and Buildings portion of the ordinance; existing definitions are shown in black font; new definitions are indicated in blue font. Section 22 refers to definitions in the General Definitions portion of the ordinance; existing definitions are shown in black font; new definitions are shown in red font. During October, 2015 the staff submitted drafts of Exhibits "A" and `B" to the Planning and Zoning Commission and asked that the commission review these documents, with the request that the commission provide comments, questions, and /or further recommendations at the November, 2015 regular commission meeting. At the November 2nd meeting, a discussion with staff was conducted, and the consensus of the commission was that all the recommendations of the staff are appropriate, and that the commission had no other questions, comments, or additional recommendations, and that the staff should prepare for conducting the required public hearings before the commission and the city council, for adoption of these zoning ordinance updates. Staff asks the City Council to note that as an attachment to this memorandum, the Exhibit "A" has a number of staff "comments" that are included to share the staff's opinion as to why the recommendation is made regarding the Zoning Ordinance. However, in the attached adopting ordinance, said comments have been deleted from Exhibit "A" as they are not part of the adopting process. At the public hearing held by the Planning and Zoning Commission on February 1st, 2016, the commission motioned to unanimously recommend Council approval of Exhibits "A" and "B" subject to removing Head Shops, as it is defined as No. 43, in Section 8 -201 in the Zoning Ordinance, and subject to No. 66. Self— Service Storage Facility wording being changed from "refrigerated" facilities to "conditioned" facilities, as per Section 8, within Exhibit `B ". Public hearings have been advertised and published in the Paris News, to be held by the Planning and Zoning Commission on February 1, 2016 and before the City Council on March 14, 2016.