Commissioners move to remove residential accessory uses from planned commercial centers and schedule public hearing

Planning staff presented recommended text amendments to Chapter 1-55 and 1-58 to eliminate residential accessory uses in planned commercial centers countywide, except for two existing projects in the Freedom area that would be treated as allowable legacy developments.

Staff said the code currently provides little guidance on site design for residential uses in planned commercial centers and that the Planning & Zoning Commission recommended removing the accessory-residential language and preserving existing projects as permitted to avoid nonconforming status.

A commissioner said the county has only two such developments and described them as poor examples lacking parking, affordability and adequate design, urging clear design standards for any future mixed-use development. After debate about timing and outreach, the board voted to direct staff to schedule a public hearing on the proposed amendments and to include specific code sections (1-55.092(d) and sections of 1-58) in the notice.

The action sends the proposed language to public hearing; staff will return with public comments and a recommendation for final action.