Small Area Plan Zoning Ordinance Amendments
in progressSummary
The Small Area Plan Zoning Ordinance Amendments project is a city initiative to update the zoning ordinance to align with previously adopted small area plans for activity centers. The effort has been described as "long awaited" by Planning Commission members. The process began with an introduction and work session at the Planning Commission on February 9, 2026, followed by an introduction to City Council on February 17, 2026. A follow-up Council work session on March 10, 2026 covered substantive topics including zoning structure, dimensional standards, community benefits, frontages, open space, circulation and parking, and tree conservation and landscaping — the last of which is being developed in conjunction with a separate tree conservation ordinance. A public open house was held on March 26, 2026 at the Sherwood Center. As of mid-2026, discussion is ongoing across both the Planning Commission and City Council, with continued work sessions scheduled into late June and beyond.
Open questions & options on the table
- Continued Council discussion on small area plan zoning ordinance amendments scheduled for the June 14 meeting (noted in June 9 and June 23 records).
- Relationship and sequencing between the current zoning ordinance amendments and the separate upcoming process for reviewing and updating the small area plans themselves (introduced as a distinct June 23 work session topic).
- No formal action (vote or adoption) has been taken on the amendments at either the Planning Commission or City Council level; the path to formal adoption remains open.
- Planning Commission work session on reviewing and updating small area plans anticipated but not yet scheduled as of April 13, 2026.
Recent updates
[10] Staff noted that small area plan zoning ordinance amendments are underway and that a future work session on reviewing and updating small area plans is anticipated.
[11b] Council received a follow-up briefing on draft Small Area Plan Zoning Ordinance Amendments; no action was taken and discussion will continue at future meetings.
What members have said
On January 13, 2026, Peterson noted the upcoming agenda covering the amendments was 'packed' in terms of information load and quality, flagging the volume of reading involved. On June 2, 2026, Peterson asked how the small area plan zoning ordinance amendments relate to the separate June 23 discussion on reviewing and updating small area plans, indicating some confusion about the sequencing and connection between the two processes.
On June 2, 2026, Bates articulated a clarifying framework: the current small area plans provide guidance informing the zoning ordinance amendments process, while the separate discussion on reviewing and updating small area plans is about establishing a recurring process for future updates, similar to the comprehensive plan cycle.
Positions as recorded in meeting minutes; votes without recorded comment aren’t summarized.
Full history
[8c] Draft Small Area Plan Zoning Ordinance Amendments were introduced and discussed at the work session; continued discussion was scheduled for February 23, 2026 and a public meeting on March 26, 2026 at the Sherwood Center.
[6b] Draft zoning ordinance amendments related to small area plans in activity centers were introduced to Council; no action was taken and a follow-up work session is scheduled for March 10.
- Mar 10, 2026City Council · item 11b
[11b] Council received a follow-up briefing on draft Small Area Plan Zoning Ordinance Amendments; no action was taken and discussion will continue at future meetings.
[10] Staff noted that small area plan zoning ordinance amendments are underway and that a future work session on reviewing and updating small area plans is anticipated.