Zoning Map Revisions

At a glance

Based on auto-generated captions; names and details may be misheard.

What: a proposed simplified zoning map for the unified development regulations, cutting the number of districts from 14 to roughly 9 or 10.
Where it stands: the second and last public input session was held 2026-10-13. Only one resident commented, and no new written comments had arrived since September 28.
Next: committees were asked for comments by October 26. The commission agreed to hold the map and take it up as an agenda item at its first November meeting to synthesize feedback and decide on any changes. Dimensional standards and district descriptions follow.

Downtown (urban center) expanded one block in every direction, including down Berry Street, which is outside the flood plain.
Urban center districts cut from three to two. Urban Center 1 allows block-style construction up to the property line; Urban Center 2 allows height and density without block-style building.
Arterials become Mixed-Use Residential 1 (small offices, home businesses). A new Mixed-Use Residential 2 merges the old Western Gateway and National Life districts and runs along River Street, as a larger-scale growth area.
Eastern Gateway kept only along Route 2. A separate industrial district was created.
Four residential districts merged into two: high-density (one unit per 1,500 sq ft) and medium-density (6,000 sq ft lots).
Rural zoning (2-acre minimum) stays where there is no sewer or water.
The Country Club Road parcel is untouched because the city is in negotiations with the owner; it may become Mixed-Use Residential 2.

A resident asked why the high-density band stops at the Pinewood and Crestview neighborhood, and asked that the 15 acres planned for the riverfront area be "ground truthed" so it covers usable land rather than wet land. Planning staff explained that brown districts differ from yellow ones only in allowed uses, not density.
Eight comments were already posted on the map, all dated September 28.

No vote. Consensus to table the map until committee feedback (Housing Committee, Conservation Commission) is in.

About 21 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).

Meeting	Minutes
2026-10-13 - Planning Commission	21

2026-10-13 - Planning Commission — second public input session; one resident commented; commission agreed to hold the map until committee comments arrive and revisit it in early November.
2026-09-28 - Planning Commission — first public input session; developer and residents supported simplification but questioned the 1,500-unit goal; districts reduced from 13 to 9; second session set for October 13.

Agenda item 6a: consider input from other City committees on the proposed new zoning map (follows the 2026-10-26 committee comment deadline).