Decatur zoning board elects officers, approves minutes and readies comprehensive-plan update

The Decatur Board of Zoning Appeals opened its meeting with procedural remarks and elected a chair, vice chair and secretary by voice vote. The board also approved the minutes of the Nov. 10, 2025 meeting and moved on to new business, including adopting the posted 2026 field meeting calendar.

Members discussed whether to change the regular meeting start time from 7:30 p.m.; several members noted that changing the start time would require an amendment to bylaws or a formal procedure. One member said they preferred keeping meetings at 7:30 p.m., while others asked staff to research alternatives and to draft any needed bylaw language.

Staff announced the city will begin a five-year comprehensive-plan update and asked board members to consider volunteering for the steering committee; the kickoff is scheduled to start on the 20th with public outreach and consultant support. Board members discussed how UDO/UDO (zoning) language and lot-width rules might be reconsidered as part of the update.

The meeting then moved to hearings on zoning variances. The board closed public comment and took action on agenda items later in the session.