Council adopts campus overlay zoning to help hospitals, churches and campuses expand

After a public hearing, the Beatatric City Council unanimously adopted Ordinance 26-11 to add a campus overlay district to the zoning ordinance. The overlay is intended to let qualifying institutional properties hospitals, schools, large churches and similar uses apply for a campus designation that permits a tailored set of development standards through a master development plan.

Staff explained the overlay requires a master plan demonstrating traffic flows, stormwater control, setbacks and building uses. The overlay is limited to qualifying uses and properties of at least 10 acres; staff noted typical applicants would include the hospital, larger churches and some school properties. The fee resolution adopted the application fee for campus overlay districts at $150.

Council members asked about the practical costs to applicants of required studies (surveying, engineering, stormwater analysis), and planning staff estimated the stormwater study alone could run roughly $5,000 to $10,000 depending on parcel size. Staff also confirmed that if council approves an initial campus overlay district, any subsequent substantial changes to the approved master plan would be returned to council for review per Section 593 of the new chapter.

Ordinance 26-11 passed by a unanimous vote; staff said the overlay provides more flexibility for large institutional developments while preserving design and infrastructure safeguards.