Opelika planning staff outlines May moratorium, yearlong zoning rewrite with consultant

Planning staff told the Opelika Planning Commission on March 1 that the city plans to place a moratorium on new development approvals beginning May 1 and to use the pause to rewrite the city's zoning ordinance.

Staff said the moratorium will give planners time "to take a step back" and review growth, infrastructure and services while the commission and city staff work with KPS Group of Birmingham, a consultant the city has retained to help rewrite the zoning code. The timeline staff presented anticipates outreach via a dedicated webpage and periodic reports to the planning commission and city council as work progresses.

"Our goal is ultimately to do this within the 12 months without requesting any additional time," staff said, while acknowledging the timetable could slip if the commission asks staff to study particular issues more closely. Staff said some items from the rewrite could appear earlier for commission review and that a minimum extension would be requested only if necessary.

Commissioners did not take formal action on the moratorium at the meeting; staff said the moratorium proposals and draft timelines will be provided to the city council and posted to the city's online platforms as the process moves forward.