City Council Rejects Temporary Development Moratorium, Adopts Resolution to Provide Interim Solutions to Protect Neighborhoods
City Council rejected an ordinance by a vote of 4-3 that would have placed a six-month moratorium on the development of commercial and multi-family projects directly adjacent to single-family homes. The ordinance was first proposed on March 22.
To protect neighborhoods while the City works to update its Land Management Ordinance (LMO), Council adopted a resolution to direct staff to address design and dimension standards and project and buffering requirements. The amendments apply to non-residential uses and multi-family uses that are adjacent to detached, single-family homes.
The City recently adopted the GVL2040 comprehensive plan, which directs future growth into higher density nodes that are connected by major corridors. GVL2040 commits to protecting the character of existing single-family neighborhoods and the quality of life for neighborhood residents. The City faces pressures created by multi-family and commercial development along major corridors that abut neighborhoods, as well as the development of properties within existing neighborhoods.
The resolution directs staff to address the following development issues in the LMO, when adjacent to single-family properties:
- Outdoor activity and dining
- Commercial trash collection
- Light pollution
- Field changes to construction without Board, Commission, or staff approval
- Lot coverage allowances for non-residential properties
- Height transition for multi-family and non-residential buildings
- Setback requirements
- Landscape buffer requirements for non-residential and multi-family properties
The resolution also directs staff to study the following development issues when adjacent to single-family residential use properties and bring back a report and recommendation in 30 days,:
- Traffic and noise concerns
- Stormwater controls
- Parking requirements
- Defined uses within zoning districts
City staff will create a webpage for community input and the text amendments will be submitted to the Planning Commission for review and a public hearing before coming back before City Council. The City hopes to hire an LMO consultant in June and to immediately begin the revision process with input from the community.
