16 - Presentation - Paris Development CodeMemorandum
Item No. 16
TO: Mayor, Mayor Pro Tem and City Council
Grayson Path, City Manager
FROM: Duke McGee, MCP Building Official, Asst. Director Community Development
SUBJECT: PDC (Paris Development Code) Committee update to Council
DATE: March 25, 2024
BACKGROUND
In February of 2023, the PDC Committee was formed to consolidate, simplify and unify the City's
development regulations. The goal is to produce a code that aligns with the various city plans, is
up-to-date and relevant, is easy for officials to interpret and administer, and is clear for developers
and the general public to understand and follow. This agenda item is intended to provide the entire
City Council a summary of where this project is at and what we foresee as being next steps.
Over the past year the Committee and staff have worked on consolidating and simplifying the
City's development ordinances (those that pertain to land development such as zoning,
subdivision, building code, etc.). All applicable city ordinance, State Codes and Federal laws are
in the process of being reviewed. Other cities and jurisdictions with unified development codes
have also been reviewed and in some cases pulled from. Local business professionals and various
construction contractors have been consulted and surveyed.
STATUS UPDATE
The Committee is currently around 75% complete with the draft of the PDC. It will then be
reviewed by a panel consisting of HPC, P&Z and City Council representation for content, user
ability, formatting, etc. The draft PDC must also still proceed through a full legal review by our
City Attorney's office.
The document consist of 8 chapters with multiple indexes and a little over 500 pages. Development
in Paris can be systematized in 6 basic steps: 1) Application, 2) Zoning, 3) Platting, 4) Site
Development, 5) Building Construction and 6) Certificate of Occupancy Issuance. The PDC is
organized to match these steps and to match the Paris Development Process Manual. These steps
are outlines below:
Development Step
Development Process Manual
Paris Development Code
1. Application
Chapter 1
Chapter 1
2. Zoning
Chapter 2
Chapter 2
3. Platting
Chapter 3
Chapter 3
4. Site Development
Chapter 4
Chapter 4
5. Building Construction Chapter 5, 6 and 7 Chapter 5
6. Certificate of Occupancy Issuance Chapter 8 Chapter 4
Additionally the PDC has the Following Chapters:
• Chapter 6 ®-- Development in the Downtown Central Area District
• Chapter 7 — For universal appeals, enforcement and legal status
• Chapter 8 -- General definitions and specific definitions
PURPOSE
While the following objectives are standard of any municipal code (such as ours currently), the
provisions of the PDC are intended to streamline implementation of the following:
• Promote the development, redevelopment and utilization of land in a manner that assures
an attractive and high-quality community environment in accordance with the adopted
Comprehensive Plan and other stated City policies and objectives;
• Guide, assist and expedite property owners and applicants in the correct procedures to be
followed in the development, redevelopment and subdivision of land, and to inform them
of the City's minimum standards for same;
• Protect the public interest and safety by imposing minimum standards for the location,
design and type of public infrastructure (such as streets, sidewalks, alleys, utilities, storm
drainage, and other essential public services) needed to serve new developments,
redeveloping land, and for surrounding areas;
• Ensure the most efficient and beneficial provision of public facilities and services for each
land tract being developed, redeveloped or subdivided;
• Provide for the safe and efficient circulation of traffic;
• Provide for safe and efficient pedestrian circulation that is appropriate for the various uses
of land and buildings;
• Prevent pollution;
• Preserve the natural beauty and topography of the City and ensure development,
redevelopment, and land subdivision that is appropriate with regard to these natural
features;
• Establish adequate and accurate records of land subdivision;
• Provide for adequate light, air, and privacy;
• Secure safety from fire, flood, and other dangers;
• Prevent overcrowding of land and undue congestion of population; and
• Ensure development that promotes public welfare, protects property values, and enhances
the quality of life for residents of the City of Paris
NEXT STEPS
As was mentioned in the Status Update, there are still several steps to go. This will take some time,
but given this is a fundamental change to much of our municipal code, we want to make sure that
what is presented to the council is as much of a final product as possible. When we do present it
to the council, our recommendation is to present it in chunks, sizes of which TBD.