Commission weighs whether historic design guide should be enforceable or advisory

City staff presented a working draft of a historic design guideline intended as an illustrated companion to the zoning ordinance and asked the commission whether it should be an enforceable ordinance appendix or an advisory guide. Commissioner Sandra Stone urged an enforceable document, saying, "I want something that's enforceable," arguing that an enforceable guide would eliminate ambiguity for applicants.

Staff liaison Jason Haskins explained the tradeoffs: if the commission wants the guidebook to be enforceable it would become part of the zoning ordinance and require public hearings and formal ordinance changes through Planning & Zoning and City Council; if it remains a guide, it would be advisory but still useful to support recommendations to council. Haskins said staff intends to produce a user-friendly document with photos and illustrations and will schedule work sessions with PNZ and City Council as the next steps.