TITLE
Update the Board of Commissioners on the effort to extend zoning to areas of the county that are currently unzoned and schedule the public hearing date.
ABSTRACT
Action Requested:
Update the Board of Commissioners on the effort to extend zoning to areas of the county that are currently unzoned and schedule the public hearing date.
Introduction & Background:
During the December 14, 2015 Commissioners meeting staff provided additional information to the Board regarding their direction to extend zoning to areas that are currently unzoned. This information included a tentative timeline for implementation including scheduling the public hearing during the February meeting.
Discussion & Analysis:
In preparation for extending zoning, staff has started the procurement process to purchase additional public hearing signs and coordinating a mass mailing. Additionally, a website and faq sheet are being developed, and planning staff is coordinating with other county departments for different aspects of the public hearing notification. A timeline was provided during the December Commissioners meeting identifying May 2016 as the preferred month for scheduling a public hearing. However, the Board has two meetings in May for budget public hearings and no items tentatively scheduled for the June 6, 2016 reserved meeting date. It may be preferable to use the June 6 date for a special meeting for the zoning public hearing.
Two additional items that will need to be addressed during this process are the adoption of zoning regulations for sexually oriented businesses and repealing the Lighting Ordinance. The Zoning Ordinance currently does not include regulations for sexually oriented businesses and standards are necessary since zoning will be implemented throughout the county. Amendments to the Zoning Ordinance should be ready for discussion during the April 18, 2016 Commissioners meeting. In regards to the second item, the Lighting Ordinance was adopted in September 2009 and addresses outdoor lighting in unzoned areas of the county. If zoning is adopted countywide the outdoor lighting standards in the Zoning Ordinance will be implemented, which mirror the Outdoor Lighting Ordinance standards.
Recommendation:
Schedule the public hearing to extend zoning to unzoned areas.