Planning Commission Meeting Date: November 19, 2026
To: Members of the Planning Commission
From: Mikayla Schmidt, AICP, City Planner
Mathias Hughey, AICP, Associate City Planner
Title
Review and Discussion of the Land Development Code and Comprehensive Plan.
Body
Action Requested:
The Planning Commission will review and discuss elements of and models for regulating development within the city, exploring outcomes, priorities, and frameworks identified in the Comprehensive Plan.
Summary Report:
Houseal Lavigne (HL) is working on updating Land Development Code (LDC). After providing the Preliminary Recommendations Report they have moved into the next phase which focuses on districts and use-specific standards.
While the Zoning Policy Advisory Committee (ZPAC) provides policy direction for the LDC update, the Planning Commission (PC) has valuable experience in the review of applications, projects, development processes and the Comprehensive Plan (CP). The PC is also charged with certain responsibilities of carrying out the CP and will make a recommendation to the City Council for the updated LDC.
Writing an update to the LDC requires balancing competing priorities and objectives while providing clear direction for staff who are charged with interpreting regulations for developers, builders, property owners and others. However, clarity can often reduce flexibility or increase administrative burdens where minor deviations might be reasonable but require out-sized administrative procedures.
Ideally, regulations are consistent with the stated intents and purposes of the LDC and objectives, core principles, and vision of the Comprehensive Plan. The Zoning Code update should:
Prioritize growth in locations and patterns that pay for themselves.
Protect and manage natural assets for long-term sustainability, including promoting long-term energy savings.
Produce equitable outcomes, considering who benefits and who bears burdens.
Locate housing, services, ...
Click here for full text