GDP Adopted, Comprehensive Zoning Next
Earl Bradley
On October 16th The County Council adopted the General Development Plan
(GDP) after approving 35 amendments. Several were text amendments that
updated the text of the GDP in response to recent State legislation and
comments from state agencies. They included (1) replacement of the old
smart growth goals with the recently passed expanded goals, (2) a more
precise description of Priority Preservation Areas addressing
agricultural preservation concerns, and (3) a new section on Sea Level
Rise concerns. Councilman Jamie Benoit added language to ensure
protection of significant natural areas, even in areas designated for
growth. The legislation approving the GDP also explicitly incorporates
the Small Area Plans as part of the GDP.
In addition, there were over twenty amendments making changes in land
use designations. Some of these merely reflect existing land uses on a
site or the existing zoning. However, others will have to be carefully
evaluated as part of the comprehensive rezoning process. An example of
such a change is Amendment 28 proposed by Councilman Middlebrooks in
Josh Cohen’s District which changes the land use designation on 8 acres
along Admiral Cochrane Drive in the Parole area from R2 to Commercial.
As part of the comprehensive zoning process, the County Department of
Planning and Zoning will review the appropriateness of the rezoning
proposed to accompany the land use designations approved as amendments
to the GDP legislation. The Comprehensive Rezoning process will start
in early December through which property owners can request changes in
the zoning of their properties and the associated land use
designations. The County Department of Planning and Zoning will
evaluate the proposed rezoning requests, and in early February, make
their recommendations as to whether the County should make the requests
public. The County Council will have the final say on whether the
rezoning requests are adopted or not.
|
|
