CommUNITY2020 E/VC Creation of Unified Development Ordinance for Evansville...

CommUNITY2020 E/VCCreation of Unified Development Ordinance

for Evansville & Vanderburgh CountyPublic Meeting | 11 June 2019

Agenda

• Introduction• Photo Comparisons• Why are We Doing This and How?• What does the E/VC Comprehensive Plan Say?• What are the goals of this process?• Public Input & Next Steps

Public Meeting 1 I Evansville & Vanderburgh County, Indiana Unified Development Code

PHOTO COMPARISONS

ACTIVITY: PHOTO COMPARISONS

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ACTIVITY: PHOTO COMPARISONS

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ACTIVITY: PHOTO COMPARISONS

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ACTIVITY: PHOTO COMPARISONS

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WHAT DO ALL THESE THINGS HAVE IN COMMON?

What is Driving Zoning Changes?

• Change in demographics• Multi-modal transportation• Emphasis on design• Economic development financing and restructuring• Changes in communications• Technological advances (energy, internet, autonomous vehicles)• Need for flexibility and the ability to adapt

Public Meeting 1 I Evansville & Vanderburgh County, Indiana Unified Development Code

WHY ARE WE DOING THIS & HOW?

Why are We Doing This?

Objective I:

To create a Unified Development Ordinance

(UDO) that combines the Zoning Ordinance

and Subdivision Regulations

Objective II:

Align the Ordinance with the 2015-2035

Comprehensive Plan.

Objective III:

Streamline and simplify the Ordinance to make

it user friendly.

Objective IV:

Increase predictability, flexibility, and clarity

for any type of development.

What is Zoning?

• Protect the health, safety, and welfare

• A tool that towns and cities use to govern “uses” and regulate where certain development occurs and how it looks

• Residential, commercial, industrial

• IC 36-7-4-600 series

What are Subdivision Regulations?

• A process involving the division of land that is designed to allow adequate street access, drainage, and utilities to the development

• The creation of parcels based on size requirements, shape, and access to roadways

• IC 36-7-4-700 series

History

Evansville City Plan Commission was created

1921

Adoption of the first city zoning ordinance and comprehensive plan

1925

Vanderburgh County Plan Commission was established

1940

First zoning code adopted for Vanderburgh County

1945

Evansville-Vanderburgh County Plan Commission was established

1955

Evansville-Vanderburgh Comprehensive Plan was developed by the Plan Commission

1st Subdivision Standards were Adopted for City & County

1957

Evansville-Vanderburgh County Comprehensive Plans were developed/updated

1983 & 2014

April – June ‘19 June – Sept. ‘19 Sept. ‘19 – Sept. -20 Sept. ‘20 – Feb. ‘21

DISCOVERY ADOPTIONDRAFTINGAUDIT

Project Management

Public Input

Project Task Force

Kick Off

Comprehensive Plan Review

Ordinance Review

Issues/Needs Identification

Revise Draft

APC Hearing

County Commissioners Hearing

Evansville City Council Hearing

Final UDO

Table of Contents

Creation of Modules

Review Meetings

UDO Draft

Public Meetings

Framework Discussion (Public Input)

Analyze Ordinances

Diagnosis Memorandum

Diagnosis Memorandum Presentation

Public Meeting 1 I Evansville & Vanderburgh County, Indiana Unified Development Code

WHAT DOES THE E/VC 2015-2035 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SAY?

Evansville & Vanderburgh County Zoning Map

Comprehensive Plan

“To address urban sprawl, or outward growth, the Plan stresses contiguous development which minimizes the loss of agricultural land, creates more efficient use of infrastructure, and increases the stability of certain uses in the City. Besides stressing infill and urban core revitalization, the Plan recommends a focus on those existing commercial areas that are struggling outside of the core by incorporating mixed use into these areas; and the Plan strongly discourages the rezoning of new land when significant vacant areas are available with the correct zoning for the proposed use.”

What Guidance does the Comprehensive Plan give about Zoning?

Agricultural uses should be in agricultural zones and residential uses should be in

residential zones.

What Guidance does the Comprehensive Plan give about Zoning?

Direct new commercial development into existing, underutilized commercial areas before rezoning new land.

Create flexibility and sustain compact older commercial areas that serve residential needs. Allow for pop up stores, food trucks, outdoor seating at restaurants, and other similar activities which create vibrant places within certain areas/zoning district.

What Guidance does the Comprehensive Plan give about Zoning?

When new or redeveloped industrial sites occur adjacent to sensitive uses and areas, consider potential environmental impacts and encourage an appropriate design context.

What Guidance does the Comprehensive Plan give about Zoning?

Establish landscaping incentives/requirements in the development process.

What Guidance does the Comprehensive Plan give about Zoning?

Include more walkable and transit-oriented designs within the community.

APC & BZA Request & Approvals

2016

Total requests: 185Total approved: 177

2017

Total requests: 196Total approved: 179

2018

Total requests: 243Total approved: 217

2019*

Total requests: 27Total approved: 17

* As of March, 2019

Public Meeting 1 I Evansville & Vanderburgh County, Indiana Unified Development Code

WHAT ARE THE GOALS OF THIS PROCESS?

Goals of the UDO Process

• Incorporate more graphics, pictures, and tables to explain information• Modernize zoning districts and uses• Reorganize the ordinance so things are easier to find• Simplify the ordinance language so it's clear and easy to read• Improve quality of development• Implement the 2015 – 2035 Evansville-Vanderburgh County

Comprehensive Plan

Incorporate more Graphics, Pictures, and Tables to Explain Information

Modernize Zoning Districts and Uses

Reorganize the Ordinance so it is Easier to Navigate

Simplify Ordinance Language so it is Clear and Easy to ReadCurrent Language: 17.12.150 Nonconforming Uses.Within the zoning districts of this title or by amendments which may later be adopted, there exist nonconforming structures; nonconforming uses of land; nonconforming uses of land and structures in combination; and nonconforming characteristics of uses which lawfully exist as of the effective date of the ordinance codified in this title, but which would be prohibited, regulated, or restricted under the terms of this title or future amendments thereto. It is the intent of this title to permit these nonconforming uses to continue until they are removed, but not to encourage their survival. It is further the intent of this title that nonconforming uses shall not be enlarged upon, expanded, or extended, nor be used as grounds for adding other uses or structures which are prohibited elsewhere in the same zoning district. Note: illegal uses existing at the time the ordinance codified in this title is enacted shall not be validated by virtue of its enactment.

Simplify Ordinance Language so it is Clear and Easy to ReadSimplified Language: 17.12.150 Nonconforming Uses.A legal nonconforming use is a use existing legally at the time of the passage of this Ordinance, or the time of annexation into the Evansville, which does not, because of use, conform to the regulations of the district in which it is located. A use established after the passage of this Ordinance, which does not conform to regulations of the district in which it is located, shall be considered an illegal nonconforming use and is a violation of this Ordinance. Legal nonconforming uses of land or structures may continue only in accordance with all the following provisions.

Improve the Quality of Development

Implement the 2015 –2035 Evansville-

Vanderburgh County Comprehensive Plan

Next Steps

• Zoning & Subdivision Ordinance Analysis for Evansville & Vanderburgh County

• Diagnosis Memo• Meeting & Input into Diagnosis Memo

Public Input

Thank You For Your Input!

To follow along in the process visit www.community2020evc.com for more info.

CommUNITY2020 E/VCCreation of Unified Development Ordinance for Evansville & Vanderburgh County