PC Meeting Date: August 20, 2026
To: Members of the Planning Commission
From: Mathias Hughey, AICP, Interim City Planner
Title
Staff Updates.
Body
Action Requested:
Staff provide updates to the Planning Commission.
Summary Report:
City Council & Board/Commission Updates
- The upcoming agenda items list is attached for reference.
Zoning Code Update & Redesign
- Houseal Lavigne (HL) has summarized and posted all the feedback given from the kick-off/open house in March, the focus group meetings, the Zoning Technical Advisory Committee and the Zoning Policy Advisory Committee on the website (link in attachments).
- HL presented the Preliminary Recommendations Report to the Zoning Policy Advisory Committee on Monday August 17. The report will be made publicly available via the project website shortly.
Planning Applications & Related Updates
- Park & Trail Dedication Fees: Staff continue to work on this item as time allows. The Public Works department is assisting with the review of the cash-in-lieu aspect of this code section as well.
- See the hyperlink in the attachments for the City’s Development Map.
- Archer site: The redevelopment process continues for the site. The site plan has been approved.
- Cedar Meadows: site work is underway.
- A site plan review is underway for a 7-Brew drive-through coffee establishment at 1910 Honeylocust Dr.
- Site plan review is complete and work is underway on the Acorn Mini Storage phase two project.
- Harvest Hills final plat and development agreement have been approved and final administrative work is being wrapped up.
- Highschool site work has begun.
- Cardinal Glass has started work on a planned expansion, for which it received a variance in 2025.
- Ames Mill Dam: Staff continue to work with Post Consumer Brands on transferring ownership of the dam. The dam is part of our Downtown Historic District. A certificate of appropriateness and Section 106 review will be required.
Training Opportunities
- The Maryland Department of Planning has free webinars on a variety of topics. Please see the link in the attachments to view and/or subscribe.
- The National Alliance for Preservation Commissions (NAPC) has webinars related to historic preservation. The city is a member and can share webinar links if there is interest.
- The Ohio Planning chapter has webcast series available for free. The On-Demand Webcasts could be a current and good place to start as there is a webcast on technology, sustainability, equity, law and ethics.
Alternative Options:
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Financial Impacts:
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Tentative Timeline:
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