Environmental Quality Commission Meeting Date: September 16, 2026
To: Environmental Quality Commission
From: Sara Pabich, Sustainability Coordinator
Title
Discussion on Environmental Quality and Sustainability Considerations for the Zoning Code Update.
Body
Action Requested:
At the request of EQC members, discuss and identify environmental considerations related to the Land Development Code update.
Summary Report:
The Environmental Quality Commission received a presentation from Mathias last month on the Land Development Code (LDC), or Zoning Code. Members requested additional discussion time.
Based on Mathias’s presentation, some of the sustainability areas in the Land Development Code include:
Compact Development – Infill, growth patterns, and development form.
Density vs. form-based regulations
Opportunities for small-scale commercial development
Landscaping and Stormwater – Vegetation, water quality, and natural resources.
Adequacy of buffering requirements
Provisions supporting tree survival
Alternatives or incentives to large stormwater ponds
Lighting – LDC provisions and the City’s existing dark-sky lighting ordinance.
Preservation and Adaptive Reuse – Continued use of existing buildings and protection of historic and cultural resources.
Clarity of the adaptive reuse process
Opportunities to encourage preservation and reuse
The Preliminary Recommendation Report for the Zoning Code Update can be found on the Zoning Code website.
Questions for Discussion:
What did you learn or find particularly interesting from the presentation?
What parts of the current approach or direction do you think are working well?
What areas do you think deserve more discussion, clarification, or additional information?
Are there environmental considerations you would like staff to keep in mind as the zoning code update continues?
City Plans & Policies Relevance:
The Comprehensive Plan identifies updating the LDC as a key priority for implementing that plan.
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