04-05-04 Main Street District Committee

Browse Search

Main Street District Regulations Page 2 the unique character of the Main Street area. For example, a new building within a General Commercial zone is required to provide off-street parking, landscaping, and meet certain setbacks that existing buildings do not meet. On February 9, 2004, City Council established a moratorium for new construction in the Main Street area, until City. staff could review the Zoning Ordinance with the Planning and Zoning Commission and business ownersltenants who would be affected by the ordinance. Process: The staff has outlined a process to determine if there is a need to change the zoning district regulations, and if so, what should those changes be. A committee has been formed. It is comprised mainly of business owners/tenants of the Main Street area, a Planning and Zoning Commissioner, a Chamber of Commerce representative, and an Heritage Society member (see attached list of members). The Chairman of the Committee is Bill Manning and Vice-Chairman is Bobby Schlenk. Staff liaisons are Wayne Sabo, City Planner; Crystal Scott, Administrative Assistant to the City Manager; Nicholas Finan, Interim Planning Director; and the Main Street Coordinator, yet to be named. The committee is starting from scratch. There are no proposed district regulations. The committee will look at the possibility of leaving the zoning regulations in place, creating a separate district with its own set of regulations, maintaining the current zoning, but within the Main Street District apply some new or remove some existing limitations, or recommend some variation. The committee is not reviewing or considering changes to the building code, nor is it intended to look at capital improvements for this area; although these may be discussed. The committee will present its recommendation to the Planning and Zoning Commission. The Planning and Zoning Commission will have at least one public hearing and modify or accept the recommendation of the committee or make its own recommendation to City Council. The City Council will conduct at least one public hearing and then take action to accept, modify the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission, or choose not to make any changes at all. It is expected the process will take several months, and there will be periodic updates from the committee to the Planning and Zoning Commission. There was to be an initial public hearing conducted by the Planning and Zoning Commission on March 24, 2004, to gain some initial input from the general public. It has been changed to April 15,2004, at 6:00 P.M. in the City Hall Council Chambers located at 604 W. Fairmont Parkway. The information gathered at the public hearing will be provided to the committee. There are no regulations being proposed at this time, only input being sought. For more information, please contact Wayne Sabo, Nicholas Finan, or Crystal Scott at 281-471- 5020. Attachments