HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_UDCAC_01.11.2023Minutes of the
Unified Development Code Advisory Commission
City of Georgetown, Texas
Wednesday, January 11, 2023
The Georgetown Unified Development Code Advisory Commission met on Wednesday, January 11,
2023 at 3:30 PM at City Hall, Community Room, 808 Martin Luther King Jr Street.
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The following Members were in attendance:
Present were: Jordan Maddox, Scott A Allen, Joshua A Baran, Brian L Robinson, Patrick J
Stevens, Philip Wanke
Public Wishing to Address the Board
On a subiect that is posted on this agenda: Please fill out a speaker registration form which can be found on the
table at the entrance to the meeting room. Clearly print your name and the letter of the item on which you
wish to speak and present it to the Board Liaison prior to the start of the meeting. You will be called forward to
speak when the Board considers that item. Only persons who have delivered the speaker form prior to the
meeting being called to order may speak. Speakers will be allowed up to three minutes to speak. If you wish to
speak for six minutes, it is permissible to use another requestor's granted time to speak. No more than six
minutes for a speaker may be granted. The requestor granting time to another speaker must also submit a form
and be present at the meeting.
On a subject not posted on the agenda: A request must be received by the Advisory Board or Commission Liaison
prior to the day the agenda for this mee ng is posted. Each speaker will be given three minutes to address the
Board or Commission members. No action can be taken.
1. Regular Session
1.A Meeting Minutes
Consideration and possible action to approve the minutes of the March 9th, 2022
regular meeting of the Unified Development Code Advisory Committee — Stephanie
McNickle, Planning Specialist
Moved by Philip Wanke; seconded by Joshua A Baran to Approve Item 1.A as
presented.
Motion Approved: 6- 0
Voting For: Brian L Robinson, Patrick J Stevens, Philip Wanke, Jordan Maddox, Scott
A Allen, Joshua A Baran
Voting Against: None
1.13 Update on 2022 Annual Review.
Discussion on current status and close out of the 2022 Annual Review of the Unified
Development Code. --Travis Baird, Assistant Planning Director Travis Baird updated
the Board on the UDC Annual Review.
Baird reviewed the past UDC review and updated the Commission on changes to the
future timeline. City Council has determined that focus should shift more towards the
diagnostic review of the UDC moving forward, and Baird thanked the Board for their
work on the review of the UDC and their service to the City of Georgetown.
No action was taken by the Committee on this item.
1.0 UDC Diagnostic
Update on the Current Status of the UDC Diagnostic and the role of the Unified
Development Code Advisory Committee and specific members. --Ryan Clark, Planner II
Ryan Clark presented the review of the UDC rewrite process, and explained the purpose
of the rewrite, introduced the consultants hired to aid in the process, and reviewed the
phases of the process.
Phase 1 will cover the Initiation and Code Diagnostic, which will include 8 focus group
conversations with developers, City staff, and local partners to gather thoughts,
critiques, and ideas for updating the UDC document. There will also be 8 meetings of
the newly formed UDC Steering Committee. Freese -Nichols are drafting the diagnostic
review now for staff, P&Z, and City Council to review before moving on to Phase 2.
Phase 2 will start the drafting of the code using modules, including zoning regulations,
general provisions and procedure, subdivision regulations, storm water and wastewater
provisions, etc.
Phase 3 will be a 6-month testing and finalization phase of the code to receive feedback
on the finalized draft, followed by a formal adoption through P&Z and City Council
approval.
Clark reviewed the UDCAC's role in relation to the UDC Steering Committee. There will
be 8 meetings of the steering Committee to allow review and feedback of key components
of the rewrite. UDCAC will continue to meet throughout this process, and since Chair
Stevens is a member of both Committees, he will act as a liaison between the groups to
bring any concerns to both meetings needing to be addressed. Chair Stevens commented
that he would like to hear as much information and feedback from UDCAC members as
possible, as gathering information from the community and developers is key to the
success of this project.
Sofia Nelson explained that the diagnostic phase is especially important, as this is when
we identify problems in the code that need to be fixed, and establish a path forward to
develop solutions. Nelson asks members to bring as many issues and real -world
examples of problems and real -world examples of problems in the code forward so they
can be considered before we get too far along in the process.
Board Member Allen asked for more background on the UDC Steering Committee
members. Ryan Clark provided more information on Steering Committee members and
explained how they can bring value to the rewrite process. Allen commented that the
Committee seems to be heavy on developers and light on homeowner and neighborhood
perspectives, and asked how the City plans to engage the community in this process.
Clark explained that Freese -Nichols has extensive experience with public engagement
during this kind of process, and there will be a number of public meetings that are noticed.
Board Member Allen voiced concerns that residents could be intimidated by the process
and may need -extra outreach to participate in the rewrite.
Chair Stevens asked for as much notice ahead of meetings as possible to be able
prepare for upcoming UDC Steering Committee meetings and make sure all input is
heard.
Baird and Clark both emphasized the importance of UDCAC members' perspectives and
opinions in this process. Board Member Baran asked where in the process they foresee
needing UDCAC members' input the most. Clark established that the external code focus
group, which will potentially be held Feb. 1, would be about an hour and a half of
discussion with Freese -Nichols to hammer out problems within the code and hear
complaints. This will be a total overhaul of our current code, so their input will be valuable
throughout the entire process. Board Member Baran asked if the rewrite will address plan
types and applications. Baird established that since we have not yet received the
diagnostic documents, we don't know what areas they've identified yet. Discussion on
phasing and timeline of feedback needed from UDCAC. Clark established that focus
groups will be invaluable for gathering complaints and potential improvements for the
code.
Board Member Baran asked how often UDCAC will be meeting. Chair Stevens
commented that he would like to have UDCAC meet prior to UDC Steering Committee
meetings so that he can gather input and have adequate time to prepare and share that
input_ Baird established that this committee can continue their current schedule of
meeting every month so that the Steering Committee can have the feedback to review
at their meeting (which will potentially occur every other month).
Discussion on other Board and Commission updates.
No action was taken by the Committee on this item.
Adjournment
These minute we approved at the meeting of
air Attest