SUBJECT:
Title
PUBLIC HEARING: An Ordinance of the Town Council of the Town of Erie Amending Title 10 of the Erie Municipal Code to Create a New Reserved Open Space Zone District
Body
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Development
Department
PRESENTER(S): Kelly Driscoll, Planning Manager
First Name, Last Name, Title
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Adopt Ordinance 017-2024 creating the Reserved Open Space District.
End
SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND OF SUBJECT MATTER:
In November 2023, voters passed the Home Rule Charter for the Town of Erie. The Charter controls how the Town is governed. Article 11 of the Charter requires the Town provide and maintain an appropriate and distinct zoning for property designated as Open Space. Town legal counsel determined the existing AG/OS district did not meet the intent of the Charter, and thus drafted a proposed ordinance to resolve this issue.
The Planning Commission considered the draft ordinance to create the Reserved Open Space District at their April 17, 2024, meeting. No public comments were made. Commissioners expressed concern over allowance of "Parking Lot" as a use within the district, expressing concern over the ability to locate parking lots on open space land. Commissioners voted 6 to 1 to approve the resolution with an amendment to the ordinance that changes the Parking Lot use from by-right to Special Review Use.
Staff recommend maintaining the ability to allow Parking Lot as a by-right use within the district. The Parking Lot use is intended to allow for trail-head parking and maintenance and is not intended to be used as a commercial or significant use on open space properties. Both ordinances with and without the Parking Lot use as by-right are attached.
COUNCIL PRIORITY(S) ADDRESSED:
? Attractive Community Amenities
? Small Town Feel
? Safe and Healthy Community
? Environmentally Sustainable
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Ordinance 017-2024
2. Planning Commission Resolution P24-06
3. Ordinance 017-2024 PC A...
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