Draft of Decatur's proposed new zoning ordinance is now online

Bayne Hughes, The Decatur Daily, Ala.
·1 min read

Jul. 22—The public can now review a draft of Decatur's new proposed zoning ordinance rewrite that is available for download from the One Decatur website at onedecatur.org.

City officials are seeking online feedback from residents on the changes to the document.

The City Council hired consultant Clarion Inc. in 2018 for $195,000 to do this updated zoning and land use plan.

Featured updates include:

—Updated definitions and proposed permitted use tables that show which uses are permitted in each zoning district.

—Updated development standards for landscaping, off-street parking, exterior lighting and signs.

—Added standards for development form and design, multi-modal access and circulation, open space set-asides, neighborhood compatibility and green building initiatives.

—New zoning districts that include mixed-use districts, planned development districts and residential mixed-medium and high density districts.

Decatur's zoning ordinance was published in 1987, with several portions dating back to the 1950s. In 2019, the One Decatur comprehensive plan prioritized a full rewrite of the ordinance.

— bayne.hughes@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2432. Twitter @DD_BayneHughes.