Commission approves zoning text change to make Boulevard‑district site plans administratively approved

The Planning Commission on March 18 recommended approval of a city‑initiated zoning code text amendment (PL260048) that would make development plans in the Boulevard District subject to administrative approval rather than Planning Commission and City Council review, aligning the local code with recent state law.

Staff explained the Avondale zoning ordinance update is intended to conform to state requirements that administrative approvals be used for site plan and design review applications, including those in special districts. Under the proposed text amendments, references to Planning Commission and City Council approval for Boulevard District development plans would be removed and replaced with the zoning administrator as the approving authority.

“When appropriate, we’ll replace those (references) with the zoning administrator,” staff said, noting that all required notifications had been completed and that no public comments had been received via Avondale Connect.

Commissioners asked whether this change would remove items the commission previously reviewed; staff answered that development plans for the Boulevard District would now be handled administratively, consistent with the rest of the code, but that public‑notification requirements remain in place. The commission voted 5–0 to recommend the text amendment to City Council.

Next steps: Staff will forward the recommendation to City Council for final action.