PRESENTER: Presenter
Presenter: Maddison O’Kelley
Body
SUBJECT: Title
ORD21-369 Public Hearing and recommendation to the City Council of an ordinance to revise sections of the Code of Ordinances regarding the approval and/or appeals authority in: Chapter 144, Zoning, Section 5.1, Parking, loading, stacking and vehicular circulation, Section 5.22, Nonresidential and Multi-family Design Standards, Section 5.23, Temporary vending operations, and, Section 5.24, Temporary mobile storage units; Chapter 118, Subdivision Platting, Section 118-11, Waiver, Section 118-44, Blocks, and, Section 118-49, Sidewalks; and, amendments to Appendix D, Fee Schedule, Section A schedule of development fees.
Header
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Development Services
Body
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: All
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Case #: ORD21-369
City Council directed staff at their July 12, 2021 regular meeting to research and identify streamlining opportunities where local development-related ordinances require City Council or Planning Commission consideration for a final decision. Staff provided a briefing for the Planning Commission on October 6, 2021 on the sections of the code that were identified as opportunities for streamlining.
ISSUE:
It has been noted that some of these processes do not necessarily rise to a level requiring City Council scrutiny and, with appropriate criteria, could be addressed and finalized at an administrative or board/commission level. The intent of the proposed amendments is to enhance customer service and reduce review times for customers and developers by re-evaluating the decision-making hierarchy and which board, commission or Council should decide appeals or waivers.
Staff has examined the currently adopted ordinances and thus far has identified the following processes for amendment:
Zoning Ordinance
• Revise appeal process for Temporary Mobile Storage Units, Off-site Parking Plans, Multi-family and Non-residential design standards, and Temporary Vendor Permits.
Platting Ordinance
• Revise approval and appeal process for Alternative Pedestrian Plans, block length waivers and sidewalk waivers
Fee Schedule
• Adjust sidewalk waiver fee to reflect reduced costs associated with the reduced public hearing notification requirements.
This initiative addresses the following action items from Envision New Braunfels:
• Action 3.6: Pro actively provide a regulatory environment that remains business and resident friendly.
• Action 7.4: Strengthen sidewalk requirements in the City’s codes.
• Action 7.7: Ensure that local development codes which require sidewalks, trails, lanes or paths include healthy living, safety, and vehicular congestion relief as an intent.
• Action 7.9: Enact/enforce maximum block size limitations.
FISCAL IMPACT:
N/A
Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Based on the research conducted, staff recommends approval of the proposed revisions to processes for various appeal and waiver requests.
Attachments:
1. Draft Chapter 144 Zoning Amendments
2. Draft Chapter 118 Subdivision Platting Amendments
3. Draft Appendix D Fee Schedule Amendments