Development Code Update

The current Development Code makes use of guidelines that were adopted over 20 years ago. The ongoing update aims to modernize and simplify the development code with the goal of adapting it to today's needs.

The Process

Phase 1 - Completed

On July 21, 2015, City Council adopted Phase 1 of the Development Code Update. Phase 1 focused on technical revisions and implementing a few high-priority policy items that include details on vested rights, planned development districts, private residential streets and the implementation of the Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan.

The technical revisions include reorganization of sections of the Code, placing lengthy text in table formats, and adding diagrams to clarify requirements. These technical changes were made to make the Code more user-friendly.

Phase 2-A - Completed

City Council approved Ordinance No. 2149 on February 19, 2019, which adopted Phase 2-A of the Development Code Update. This phase focused primarily on Chapter 2, Zoning Regulations, and sough to achieve the following goals:

  1. 1.Modernize the zoning use classification tables by replacing the current use classification matrix (which is based on the 1987 SIC economic-based system) with a land use based system which considers land use impacts;
  2. Consolidate parking requirements and other regulations dispersed throughout the Code into the zoning use classification tables for ease of use; and
  3. Revise permitted and conditional uses and parking requirements based on experiences in applying the Code for over 20 years, including for example:
    • Better categorizing uses so that it is clear to residents, business owners, and the development community which uses are permitted in each zoning district;
    • Within commercial zoning districts, clarifying permitted and conditional uses where they are in character with and similar to other uses in each district;
    • Formalizing commonly used restrictions in conditional use permit processes;
    • Better reflecting parking demand in the parking requirements to ensure uses are neither under- nor over-parked;
    • Basing parking requirements on constant definitive measurement units (i.e. square footage of a building) rather than on undependable units that can change over time (i.e. number of employees).