Those who’ve followed along and participated in the Unified Development Ordinance process so far know the road we’ve been down. Last fall, in Phase 01, we began by revisiting the Decatur Strategic Plan, considering areas where city goals were not supported by existing ordinances, and identifying areas to focus on. General approaches to addressing those areas were then integrated with the overall clean-up effort and, in a meeting January 8, were affirmed by residents — together with a request that four areas (character, stormwater, sustainability/green building, and new zoning districts) be given further opportunity for community consideration and discussion.
That discussion comprised Phase 02 and took place this past spring. Scroll through the full list of sequential UDO reports for recaps of each meeting.
We’re now into Phase 03, during which the working UDO draft will be released, revised and, ultimately, presented to city commission for consideration. First up in that process will be a series of meetings where the current draft will be unveiled, and residents can get a first look, ask questions of city staff, and provide initial comments and direction. Please join us during any of the following open house drop-by sessions:
Review and Comment on the UDO Draft
Drop-by Open House
Monday, July 21 | 9am-4pm | Decatur Recreation Center | 231 Sycamore Street
Review and Comment on the UDO Draft
Drop-by Open House
Tuesdsy, July 22 | 9am-4pm | Decatur Recreation Center | 231 Sycamore Street
Review and Comment on the UDO Draft
Drop-by Open House
Wednesday, July 23 | 10am-Noon and 7-9pm | The Solarium | Oakhurst Village
Review and Comment on the UDO Draft
Drop-by Open House
Thursday, July 24 | 10am-Noon and 7-9pm | Decatur City Hall | City Commission Room
Need a reminder? Here’s a printable flyer with all the details.
Following the meetings, and prior to the draft’s first presentation to the commission at their work session in August, residents will have a three week period closing August 8 to consider and submit additional comments. Following the commission’s work session, there’ll be a second review and comment period, with a follow-through draft delivered later that month. That draft, with any final adjustments, will then be submitted to city commission in September for consideration.
Drafts will also be posted here for download. Stay tuned to www.decaturnext.com for ongoing coverage of the process and be sure to share your thoughts on the issues raised.
I am looking forward to attending at least one of these meetings. Based on what I learned at the green building/light/parking meeting in April(?), these new regulations should be opposed because they will increase the size and power of government, intrude on private property rights and the individual decisions of buyer and seller, and greatly increase building costs to make it even more difficult for average middle class families to purchase a home in the City of Decatur.
Regarding the new demolition permit procedure (11.2.10), the City is inserting itself between the buyer and seller of property. In fact, I believe the City is treading upon that most fundamental of rights as citizens of the United States which is the enjoyment of private property without intrusion by any governmental body, at least in areas not governed by historic mandates.
Besides the obvious of delaying a contract sale and the potential life and financial damages to the willing seller of her/his property, section A.3. appears to contain language that would permit the City, through it’s solicitation of “alternative opportunites”, to define or nullify the contract of sale.
For example, an “alternative opportunity” is approved but can only be done if the sale’s price is reduced. Can it be the City has the power to make this happen in order to preserve the property? In the case where the property can be preserved but at the same price, can the City make a decision which would nullify the initial contract and supplant it with another?
The demolition permit section should be strongly opposed.