Committee forwards ordinance to remove Industrial Protection Zone and limit large social-service facilities in PDR districts

The committee forwarded an ordinance to the full Board on Sept. 19 to eliminate the Industrial Protection Zone (IPZ) special use district from the planning code and zoning map. President Shimon Walton described the IPZ as an outdated stopgap measure that created a loophole allowing uses such as self-storage and big-box retail that undermine Production, Distribution, and Repair (PDR) neighborhoods.

Walton read a set of amendments into the record including limited grandfathering for self-storage projects that submitted development applications on or before Dec. 31, 2021 if at least 50% of the parcel contains qualifying ground-floor PDR or community uses, and a revised sunset/effective date change from June 1, 2030 to Dec. 31, 2026. The ordinance would also allow social-service or philanthropic facilities greater than 5,000 gross square feet in PDR districts subject to conditional use authorization.

After the author’s presentation and no public callers, Chair Mirna Melgar moved to forward the item as amended; the committee approved the motion unanimously with three 'aye' votes. The item will proceed to the full Board for final action.