Commercial Zoning Review

A long-term goal of the West University Place City Council is to complete a comprehensive review of the non-single family residential provisions of the city's zoning regulations. Read the "Commercial Zoning Regulations Review" article (PDF) from the fall 2013 City Currents.

Planning Consulting Firm

Kendig Keast Collaborative (KKC) was selected as the planning consulting firm leading the review. The first few tasks included meeting with the steering committee and then conducting interviews with stakeholders that were divided into small focus groups. The steering committee and stakeholders meetings were held in March and April. KKC took the preliminary information gathered along with the comments of the focus groups and formulated a proposal to guide the direction of the rest of the review process.

Strategic Approach Report

The consultant, KKC, presented the draft Strategic Approach Report to the steering committee in June The final Strategic Approach Report was presented to both, the Steering Committee and the Zoning and Planning Commission (ZPC) on August 13, 2014. Phase 1 proposed code amendments were also presented for discussion at these meetings. Phase 2 proposed code amendments were presented and discussed at a joint meeting of the ZPC and Steering Committee on September 11, 2014. Two separate Town Hall Meetings were held to solicit public comments and input. The meetings were on September 29, 2014, at 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. at the Community Building located at 6104 Auden Street. The Steering Committee and ZPC met on October 9, 2014, at 5:00 p.m. to clarify final direction strategy and discuss the comments from the Town Hall meetings. The consultant targeted the end of October to provide a final draft document to the ZPC for consideration of a preliminary report to City Council.

Final Draft Document & Summary

KKC submitted the final draft document and summary of proposed amendments on October 29, 2014. The ZPC considered the documents and any possible recommendations at the regular meeting scheduled on November 13, 2014. The ZPC continued their discussion regarding the proposed amendments on December 11, 2014, and approved a preliminary report on January 8, 2014, at a regular session. The preliminary report and proposed amendments were presented to City Council on January 12, 2015, and a joint public hearing was set for February 9, 2015, at 6:30 p.m. to obtain additional public input. A notice was published in the West U Examiner and sent with each water bill in the January billing. Additional notices were sent to property owners adjacent to the proposed Town Center Commercial district and the town-home district on Kirby Drive. View the powerpoint presentation (PDF) from the public hearing.

Comments

Comments from the public hearing were discussed and a final report and recommendation for City Council approved at the regular session of the ZPC on February 12 at 6:15 p.m.

City Council kept the public hearing open and received the final report and recommendation from ZPC at the meeting held on February 23, 2015, at 6:30 p.m. Comments by the public were received by City Council and the public hearing was officially closed. A first reading of the ordinance with a change the PNC status requirements was approved and the final reading and adoption was on March 9, 2015. View a copy of the adopted ordinance here (PDF).