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Michael Divita, Planner with the Department of Community Investment with offices on the 14th <br /> floor of the County-City Building, stated, The City is looking to have some Zoning Ordinance <br /> text amendments by the end of the year. This will reduce the number of special exceptions and <br /> variance requests that we see. These are items from the staff perspective as well as the neighbor <br /> perspective. There have been no objections. Staffs from the Building Department, the Area Plan <br /> Commission and Community Investment have identified some potential amendments. There will <br /> be six(6) Ordinances in two (2) sets across the October and November timeframe. They will go <br /> before Area Plan before they come to Council. Among the first set there are some changes to <br /> permitted uses. This accounts for about twenty percent (20%) of the zoning requests we see and <br /> generally does not create any land use issue. The second ordinance would address some common <br /> variance requests we see. The third would address some engineering standards and would best be <br /> handled by our Department of Public Works. The second set would include changes to our <br /> Mixed-Use Zoning District making development easier in those districts. If all these items are <br /> approved and instituted, we would see about half of the items that are heard would not have to be <br /> heard. This is our major task for the end of the year. We hope this makes the whole process <br /> easier for all involved in the process including developers,residents, and all of our staffs. <br /> Committee Chair Davis asked, Is this the first time a stress test will be done? <br /> Mr. Divita confirmed, Yes, it is the first time. It is essentially an audit of our current ordinance to <br /> identify any barriers. <br /> Councilmember Karen White stated, It would be helpful to know the exact number of which <br /> exceptions and variances have come before Council. <br /> Committeemember Jo M. Broden stated, Some of us have the additional benefits of sitting in the <br /> meetings for these discussions. So you said the first set will be heard at the September 15 Area <br /> Plan Commission meeting? <br /> Mr. Divita confirmed, Yes,that is correct. <br /> Committeemember Broden continued, This is only my second time seeing this information. I <br /> would like more detail as soon as possible. We also need more data. I need confidence in the <br /> reasons for what we are doing. <br /> Committee Chair Davis stated, I would also like a stress test for the neighbors because we cannot <br /> just be looking at this through the developer's standpoint. <br /> Sue Kessim, 4022 Kennedy Drive, stated, I find it very disturbing the neighbors have been run <br /> over time and time again in favor of business. They have been zoned over. Over fifty percent <br /> (50%) of houses are now rentals. I don't think you're looking at the bigger picture. It has to be <br /> citizens first and there is a trend of running over the average citizen. <br /> Transfer of ABZA & Zoning Administration from the Building Department to APC-Larry <br /> Magliozzi, Executive Director of the Area Plan Commission (APC) <br /> Larry Magliozzi, Executive Director of the Area Plan Commission with offices on the 111'floor <br /> of the County-City Building, stated, This packet was crafted mainly for the County Council's <br /> 2 <br />