Title
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING VARIOUS SECTIONS OF CHAPTERS 1201, 1202, 1203, 1204, 1205, 1206, 1207, 1208, 1209, 1210, 1211, 1212, AND 1213 AND AT APPENDIXES A, B, AND C OF THE CITY OF HUDSON’S LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE, aka THE “PLANNING AND ZONING CODE”.
Brief Description: The bulk of the City’s current Land Development Code (“LDC”) was adopted in 1999 - just five years after the merger of Hudson Village and Hudson Township. While the original 1999 LDC has been amended over the years, a full update has not been undertaken since the LDC’s original adoption. In April of 2017, with a recently adopted Comprehensive Plan in hand (the 2015 Comprehensive Plan - passed on January 19, 2016 by Hudson City Council), the City began a year-long process to update the LDC. The draft amendments represent the Step I administrative-focused amendments. Future updates for Step II - Commercial and Business Land Uses and Step III - Residential Land Uses would be considered at a later date as part of a separate request from City Council.
Body
Legislative History
Three readings have been conducted on the proposed amendment on June 19, 2018, and April 2 & 16, 2019. A public hearing was held on August 20, 2019, and Council has formally postponed action to November 6, 2019, to allow for additional deliberation and adoption by Council (see schedule below).
Related Legislation
Ordinance No. 19-41, establishing a temporary moratorium through December 31, 2019, on enforcement of the Land Development Code regulations related to window signs erected for nonresidential uses; passed April 2, 2019.
Purpose & Explanation
First reviews of the code in Spring and Summer of 2018 began with efforts to update the entire code. After reviewing the first Draft (June 15, 2018) with the Planning Commission, City Officials, and the community, it was determined to have a three-part effort to better review, educate, and evaluate the process. The project was broken down to focus on the following Steps: Step I - Administrative Issues, Step II - Commercial and Business Land Uses and Step III - Residential Land Uses. Council directed that review of Step II - Commercial and Business Land Uses and Step III - Residential Land Uses would be considered at a later date as part of a separate request of City Council.
Planning Commission reviewed the administrative draft amendments over eight meetings from September 2018 to March 2019 and approved a unanimous motion to recommend City Council approve the draft amendments subject to two conditions related to A frame signs and Performance Standards (see attached recommendation dated March 11, 2019).
Timing Considerations
Staff has established the following schedule for council consideration in coordination with the various LDC requirements related to the public hearing and required action.
• June 19, 2018: First Reading & Referral to Planning Commission
• April 2, 2019: Second Reading
• April 16, 2019: Third Reading
• August 20, 2019: Public Hearing
• August 27, 2019: Workshop Discussion
• September 3, 2019: Motion to further extend the previously extended timeframe
• September 10, 2019: Workshop Discussion
• October 15, 2019: Action requested
• November 6, 2019: Deadline for Action
Timeline Restrictions per the LDC requirements:
1. Council has 90 days from receipt of the recommendation on April 2nd to take action.
Deadline has been extended to November 6, 2019.
2. Council has 20 days after the Public Hearing (August 20th) to take action.
Deadline has been extended to November 6, 2019.
Fiscal Impact
Currently Budgeted
Supplemental Appropriation Required
X Appropriation Not Required.
Recommendation
Suggested Action
Staff recommends approval of the Land Development Code text amendment subject to the recommendations of the staff memorandum dated September 19, 2019.
Submitted by,
Jane Howington, City Manager
Thomas Sheridan, Assistant City Manager - Professional Services
Matthew J. Vazzana, City Solicitor
Greg Hannan, Community Development Director
Kris McMaster, City Planner
Nick Sugar, Associate Planner
Jody Roberts, Communications Manager