UDO Process Promises Lots of “Public Conversations” in the Near Future
Decatur Metro | February 3, 2014At tonight’s meeting, Decatur’s City Commission looks to approve the Table of Contents/Public Involvement Plan and the Technical Issues & Analysis Memorandum for the Unified Development Ordinance, which basically establishes “a scope of work for Phase II of the UDO project”, according to a note to the City Manager from Planning Director Amanda Thompson.
So basically these documents give a good overall sense of the issues to be tackled and the conversations coming over the next 8 months (a proposed UDO timeline in the Table of Contents has it’s adoption scheduled for September).
So, here are a smattering of the proposed discussions we can all look forward to having in 2014 from the 65-age Issues and Analysis memo. I’m tired already.
Have a public conversation about updated animal regulations, including discussing:
- Whether or not to regulate the number of chickens or roosters on a site .
- Whether or not to allow pygmy goats and potbellied pigs .
- Whether or not to allow bee keeping on a site .
- Environmentally sustainable ways to deal with animal waste and odor
Have a public conversation to establish additional “green” or high performance building initiatives, such as use of the International Green Construction Code, the National Green Building Standard, or other certification programs . Be sure to include incentives, energy sub-metering, sustainable materials, interior and exterior water use, retrofit requirements, etc . in this discussion . Due to the cost implications of any such initiative, it must be fully vetted through the UDO process
Have a public conversation to develop revised post development stormwater management regulations that are clear, more flexible, and that consider the interconnectedness of stormwater, tree conservation, and zoning .
Have a public conversation to prepare outdoor lighting regulations based on “dark sky” concepts .
Have a public conversation about if and how to protect neighborhood character . Consider:
- Designating new Historic Districts;
- Demolition delays and notification requirements;
- The effectiveness of existing infill house regulations; and
- The desired character of new infill houses .
Have a public conversation to add Demolition by Neglect provision to the code to prevent protected historic structures from being lost through strategic lack of maintenance.
Have a public conversation about whether or not to designate downtown as a local Historic District
Have a public conversation about unbundled parking in commercial and multifamily projects . This was a key recommendation of the ULI parking strategy and could support environmental, diversity, and affordability goals of the Strategic Plan .
