|
|
 |
Saturday
March 20, 2010 Since 1922 |
ULDC quizzed on commercial zoning plan
By Dave Mathews
Published October 31, 2009 Grandfather clauses and trigger mechanisms were two of the buzzwords Thursday night during the first of five United Land Development Code Citizen Task Force public meetings on proposed commercial zoning ordinances.
“This is a work in progress,” ULDC Chairman Spencer Carnes said. “We’re still trying to get zoning lined out.”
The key topic was how the new zoning ordinances would affect existing businesses and what sort of grandfather clause, in which existing businesses would gradually allow new ordinances to come up.
Baytown businessman Mitchell Pearce asked the board what sort of trigger — such as a percentage of damage to a business from disasters such as a hurricane— would force existing businesses to come up to compliance with the proposed codes.
“We don’t have anything definitive,” Carnes said, noting that the task force hoped that input from residents and business owners would help the task force make its recommendation to the city council.
Baytown Planning Director Kelly Carpenter said one option might be to separate repairs from natural disasters as opposed to expansion projects for a business.
The next public meeting will be Thursday at Stephen F. Austin Elementary School beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Other meetings will be Nov. 17 at Baytown Junior School library and Nov. 19 at Roseland Pavilion. Both meetings will begin at 5:30 p.m.
Published October 31, 2009 Grandfather clauses and trigger mechanisms were two of the buzzwords Thursday night during the first of five United Land Development Code Citizen Task Force public meetings on proposed commercial zoning ordinances.
“This is a work in progress,” ULDC Chairman Spencer Carnes said. “We’re still trying to get zoning lined out.”
The key topic was how the new zoning ordinances would affect existing businesses and what sort of grandfather clause, in which existing businesses would gradually allow new ordinances to come up.
Baytown businessman Mitchell Pearce asked the board what sort of trigger — such as a percentage of damage to a business from disasters such as a hurricane— would force existing businesses to come up to compliance with the proposed codes.
“We don’t have anything definitive,” Carnes said, noting that the task force hoped that input from residents and business owners would help the task force make its recommendation to the city council.
Baytown Planning Director Kelly Carpenter said one option might be to separate repairs from natural disasters as opposed to expansion projects for a business.
The next public meeting will be Thursday at Stephen F. Austin Elementary School beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Other meetings will be Nov. 17 at Baytown Junior School library and Nov. 19 at Roseland Pavilion. Both meetings will begin at 5:30 p.m.