PUBLIC HEARINGS

CONSIDERATION AND ACTION Development Code Phase I Update

Ms. Monique Johnson, Planner II and Ms. Ruth Lohmer, City Planner, Long Range

AGENDA • Background • Project Description & Process • Revisions by Chapter

– Technical Revisions – Substantive Revisions

• Next Steps

BACKGROUND • Dev Code adopted in 1997

– Targeted amendments over time (bulk plane, bldg finish, parking garage, etc.)

• First comprehensive review of Code since 1997

• New policy direction – Comp Plan, master plans,

guiding documents

PROJECT DESCRIPTION • Completing in-house

– Review began in 2009 – Strategic Project began in 2013

• Manageable steps – Phase 1 – Technical updates

(focus on non-substantive changes) & High Priority Policy Issues

– Phase 2 – Policy updates

PROJECT TEAM • City Staff

– Planning (Long Range & Development)

– Engineering – Parks & Recreation – Legal

• Consultant review of entire Code – Kendig Keast Collaborative

CODE UPDATE PROCESS • Detailed review of each chapter:

– City Staff • Ongoing throughout

– Development Committee • 13 workshops

– Planning & Zoning Commission • 6 workshops

• 40 people involved in review

CURRENT STATUS • P&Z final workshop Dec. 2014 • Dev. Comm. final review April 2015

– Letter of support • City Council workshop April 2015

– Comments and questions summarized in staff report

• Tonight – Review of Code changes, P&Z Public Hearing & Action

PHASE 1 • Technical Revisions:

– Rewrite unclear language – Consolidate text into tables – Add graphics – Codify current practice – Reorganized sections – Close loopholes

PHASE 1 • Substantive Revisions:

– High priority policy issues 1. Private streets 2. Pedestrian & Bicycle Master

Plan Implementation 3. PD Districts 4. Vested rights

– Modernization for best practices

CHAPTER 1: GENERAL PROVISIONS

CHAPTER 1 REVISIONS • Technical Revisions:

– Minor corrections • Substantive Revisions

– Vested Rights

SUBSTANTIVE REVISIONS Vested Rights (High Priority Policy) • Brings Code in line with State law • Establishes expirations for

applications & approvals • Establishes procedure for vested

rights claims (ability to use previous code for ongoing development project)

FEEDBACK ON CHAPTER 1 • Commission comments, questions,

feedback

CHAPTER 2: ZONING REGULATIONS

CHAPTER 2 REVISIONS • Technical Revisions:

– Reorganized sections – Replaced text with tables – Add illustrations to clarify

requirements – Codified current practice – Minor corrections

CHAPTER 2 REVISIONS • Substantive Revisions:

– Additional uses permitted in certain districts

– PD Revisions – Pedestrian & Bicycle Master Plan

Implementation • Bicycle Parking • Pedestrian Walkways

TECHNICAL REVISIONS • Replaced text with tables

TECHNICAL REVISIONS • Added illustrations to clarify

requirements

TECHNICAL REVISIONS • Established Criteria for Director

Determinations – Example: New and unlisted uses

• Established consistent parking lot setbacks in all districts – Current Code does not include

requirements in some districts

SUBSTANTIVE REVISIONS • Additional uses permitted in

certain zoning districts: – Tutoring Services and Cell Phone

Stores in B-1 (Neighborhood Business)

– Travel Agencies in B-O (Business Office)

– Home Health Care Services in M-1 (Restricted Industrial)

SUBSTANTIVE REVISIONS • PD Districts (High Priority Policy) –

to address Time, Predictability, Content & Efficiency – Clarifies submittal process – Option for flexible FDP submittal

timeframe – Identifies PD contents –

specifies differences between GDP & FDP

SUBSTANTIVE REVISIONS • PD Districts

– Baseline urban or suburban criteria

– Commission and Council discretion

– Defined suburban & urban multi-family criteria

SUBSTANTIVE REVISIONS • Pedestrian & Bicycle Master Plan

Implement. (High Priority Policy) – Bicycle Parking Required:

• 2 spaces min. for townhome, multi-family, & non-residential

• Exempt uses (ex. Warehouse) • 30 spaces max. - over 4,000

vehicle parking spaces

SUBSTANTIVE REVISIONS – Pedestrian Walkways Required:

• From sidewalk to front door • Color & texture change, 2-ft

clear space

FEEDBACK ON CHAPTER 2 • Council question on barbed wire

fencing – Staff recommended language

(addition): “Fences located within 200 ft of a SF residential zoning district shall not contain barbed wire.”

• Commission comments, questions, feedback

CHAPTER 3: RESERVED

CHAPTER 3 REVISIONS • Previous Chapter 3 – Landscaping

and Screening Regulations moved into Chapter 2, Article XV

CHAPTER 4: SIGN REGULATIONS

CHAPTER 4 REVISIONS • Technical Revisions:

– Reorganized chapter – Added illustrations to clarify

requirements – Codified current practice – Minor corrections – Clarified requirements for

abandoned signs

CHAPTER 4 REVISIONS • Substantive Revisions:

– Added regulations: • Window and Door Signs • Banners and Balloon Signs

– Limited stake signs & human signs

TECHNICAL REVISIONS • Reorganized chapter by sign type

– Regulations in one section instead of multiple sections for each sign type for ease of use

• Clarified timing of removal of abandoned signs – In alignment with State Law – Different for Wall Signs vs.

Monument Signs

TECHNICAL REVISIONS • New illustrations

SUBSTANTIVE REVISIONS • Added specific regulations for

Banners & Balloon Signs – Previously categorized as a

group – Wind Device Signs – Different regulations for each

type

SUBSTANTIVE REVISIONS • Added regulations for Window and

Door Signs – Not addressed in current Code

• Prohibited Human Signs • Limited Number of Stake Signs

FEEDBACK ON CHAPTER 4 • Commission comments, questions,

feedback

CHAPTER 5: SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS

CHAPTER 5 REVISIONS • Technical Revisions:

– Reorganized sections – Added illustrations to clarify

requirements – Minor corrections – Codified 1997 Subdivision

Ordinance

CHAPTER 5 REVISIONS • Substantive Revisions:

– Private Streets – Pedestrian & Bicycle facility

requirements

TECHNICAL REVISIONS • Codified 1997 Ordinance

– Authorized P&Z to be final authority on platting

– Code changed to clarify Council does not approve plats

TECHNICAL REVISIONS • New illustrations

SUBSTANTIVE REVISIONS • Residential Private Streets (High

Priority Policy) – Removes 25-lot rule & distance

requirement • No private streets “by right”

– Approved by City Council • PD in City • Development Agreement in

ETJ (not PUD)

SUBSTANTIVE REVISIONS • Residential Private Streets (High

Priority Policy) – Private streets accounting

reports (infrastructure assessment, financial analysis)

– Must meet public street standards

SUBSTANTIVE REVISIONS • Nonresidential Private Streets

– Must meet public standards – Established requirements for

Primary Access Easements • Serve as the primary access

route to lots or reserves without direct access to a Public or Private Street

SUBSTANTIVE REVISIONS • Pedestrian & Bicycle Master Plan

Implementation (High Priority Policy) – Provide access easements

adjacent to rights-of-way for oversized facilities

– City option to participate in cost of oversized facilities

FEEDBACK ON CHAPTER 5 • Commission comments, questions,

feedback

CHAPTER 6: SUBDIVISION DESIGN

STANDARDS

CHAPTER 6 REVISIONS SUBDIVISION DESIGN STANDARDS • Delete content of Chapter 6 • Add:

A copy of the current City of Sugar Land Design Standards, including the Guidelines for Best Management Practices, is available in the City Secretary’s office and online www.sugarlandtx.gov.

CHAPTER 7:

BUILDING REGULATIONS

CHAPTER 8: FLOOD DAMAGE

REDUCTION REGULATIONS

CHAPTER 7 & 8 REVISIONS • Chapter 7: New building codes will

be adopted later this year • Chapter 8: No Revisions

CHAPTER 9:

SUGAR LAND REGIONAL AIRPORT ZONING

REGULATIONS

CHAPTER 9 REVISIONS • Technical Revisions:

– Minor corrections – Update for recent amendments

to Sensitive Land Uses • Consistency with Chapter 2

Zoning • No Substantive Revisions

FEEDBACK ON CHAPTER 9 • Commission comments, questions,

feedback

CHAPTER 10: DEFINITIONS

CHAPTER 10 REVISIONS • Technical Revisions:

– Clarified definitions – Added new definitions – Added illustrations

FEEDBACK ON CHAPTER 10 • Commission comments, questions,

feedback

CHAPTER 11:

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND

DISCHARGE CONTROL

CHAPTER 11 REVISIONS • No revisions at this time • Public Works to review and bring

update later this year

NEXT STEPS

NEXT STEPS • Hold public hearing • Recommendation of approval to

Mayor and City Council • City Council review

– Public hearing & 1st reading of ordinance July 7

– 2nd reading of ordinance July 21

REPORTS

A. Planning and Zoning Commission Liaison Report City Council Meetings

B. City Staff Report Calendar of Scheduled Meetings

and Events

NEXT Planning & Zoning Commission

MEETING

June 9, 2015