HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda UDCAC 12.08.2021Notice of Meeting for the
Unified Dev elopment Code Adv isory Committee
of the City of Georgetown
December 8, 2021 at 3:30 P M
at Historic L ight and Waterworks Bldg, 809 Martin Luther K ing Jr St, Georgetown,
Texas 78726
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Texas at 711.
P ublic Wishing to Address the B oard
O n a s ubjec t that is posted on this agenda: P lease fill out a speaker regis tration form whic h can be found at the
Board meeting. C learly print your name, the letter of the item on which you wish to speak, and pres ent it to the
S taff Liais on, preferably prior to the start of the meeting. You will be c alled forward to speak when the Board
cons iders that item.
O n a s ubjec t not posted on the agenda: P ersons may add an item to a future Board agenda by filing a written
request with the S taff Liais on no later than one week prior to the Board meeting. T he reques t must include the
s peaker's name and the spec ific topic to be addres s ed with sufficient information to inform the board and the
public . F or Board Liaison c ontact information, pleas e logon to
http://government.georgetown.org/c ategory/boards -commissions /.
A O n a subject not posted on the agenda: P ersons may add an item to a future B oard agenda by filing a
written request with the S taff L iaison no later than one week prior to the B oard meeting. T he request
must include the speaker's name and the specific topic to be addressed with sufficient information to
inform the board and the public. F or B oard L iaison contact information, please logon to
http://government.georgetown.org/category/boards-commissions/.
At the ti me of posti ng, no persons had si gned up to speak on i tems not on the agenda.
L egislativ e Regular Agenda
B C ons ideration and possible action to approve the minutes of the November 10, 2021 regular meetings of
the Unified Development C ode Advisory C ommittee -- S tephanie Mc Nic kle, P lanning S pecialist
C Disc ussion on potential 2022 Annual R eview, potential items, proc es s , and timeline– S ofia Nels on,
P lanning Director, Travis Baird, Asst. P lanning Direc tor-C urrent P lanning, Ethan Harwell, S enior P lanner
Adjournment
Ce rtificate of Posting
I, R obyn Densmore, C ity S ecretary for the C ity of G eorgetown, Texas, do hereby c ertify that this Notic e of
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Meeting was posted at C ity Hall, 808 Martin Luther King Jr. S treet, G eorgetown, T X 78626, a plac e readily
acc es s ible to the general public as required by law, on the _____ day of _________________, 2021, at
__________, and remained s o posted for at leas t 72 c ontinuous hours prec eding the s cheduled time of said
meeting.
__________________________________
R obyn Dens more, C ity S ec retary
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City of Georgetown, Texas
Unified Development Code Advisory Committee
December 8, 2021
S UB J E C T:
C onsideration and pos s ible ac tion to approve the minutes of the November 10, 2021 regular meetings of
the Unified Development C ode Advis ory C ommittee -- S tephanie Mc Nickle, P lanning S pec ialis t
IT E M S UMMARY:
F IN AN C IAL IMPAC T:
.NA
S UB MIT T E D B Y:
Mirna G arcia, Management Analys t
AT TAC H ME N T S:
Description Type
Minutes Cover Memo
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UDC Advisory Committee 1
November 10, 2021
City of Georgetown, Texas
Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the
Unified Development Code Advisory Committee Meeting
Wednesday, November 10, 2021 at 3:30 P.M.
Historic Light and Waterworks Bldg, 809 Martin Luther King Jr St, Georgetown, Texas 78626
Committee Member(s) in Attendance: P.J. Stevens; Brian Robinson; Phillip Wanke; Brian Ortega and
Jen Henderson
Committee Member(s) Absent: Tracy Dubcack and Jordan Maddox
Staff Present: Travis Baird, Assistant Planning Director; Ethan Harwell, Senior Planner and Stephanie
McNickle, Planning Specialist.
Meeting called to order at 3:33 P.M.
Public Wishing to Address the Board
On a subject that is posted on this agenda: Please fill out a speaker registration form which can be
found at the Board meeting. Clearly print your name, the letter of the item on which you wish to
speak, and present it to the Staff Liaison, preferably prior to the start of the meeting. You will be
called forward to speak when the Board considers that item.
On a subject not posted on the agenda: Persons may add an item to a future Board agenda by filing
a written request with the Staff Liaison no later than one week prior to the Board meeting. The
request must include the speaker's name and the specific topic to be addressed with sufficient
information to inform the board and the public. For Board Liaison contact information, please logon
to http://government.georgetown.org/category/boards-commissions/.
A. On a subject not posted on the agenda: Persons may add an item to a future Board agenda by filing a written
request with the Staff Liaison no later than one week prior to the Board meeting. The request must include the
speaker's name and the specific topic to be addressed with sufficient information to inform the board and the
public. For Board Liaison contact information, please logon to
http://government.georgetown.org/category/boards-commissions/.
At the time of posting, no persons had signed up to speak on items not on the agenda.
Legislative Regular Agenda
B. Consideration and possible action to approve the minutes of the June 16, 2021 regular meeting of
the Unified Development Code Advisory Committee – Stephanie McNickle, Planning Specialist
Motion by Committee Member Henderson to approve the June 16, 2021 minutes. Second by
Committee Member Ortega. Approved.
C. Update to the committee and possible discussion on multiple topics including the 2020/21 UDC
Annual Review, upcoming UDC Diagnostic, Condo Regime Examination, and 2022 UDC Annual
Review. Travis Baird, Assistant Planning Director, Ethan Harwell, Senior Planner
Travis Baird introduced himself to the committee and gave a brief history of his time with the City
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UDC Advisory Committee 2
November 10, 2021
of Georgetown and stated he looks forward to working with the Committee.
Ethan Harwell gave a brief review of the UDC changes and updates made for the 2020-2021 cycle.
Travis Baird reviewed the process of the UDC Diagnostic that is scheduled to start in 2022 and the
Comprehensive Plan which will involve a consultant and a public outreach.
Process for the UDC Diagnostic.
• Listening, Understanding and Education
• Development Code Analysis
• Develop full Analysis and Diagnostic Report
• Develop and Discuss Options for Code Update
• Select Preferred Option
• Present and discuss preferred work plan
Staff stated the UDC diagnostic may take two years to complete.
Process for Comprehensive Plan
• Draft Development Code Based on Preferred Work Plan
• Analyze impact of changes
• Present Draft #1 and take in public comment
• Develop and Discuss Options for Addressing Feedback
• Present Draft #2 and take in public comment
• Develop and Discuss Options for Addressing Feedback
• Draft Final Version for Public Hearing – P&Z and City Council
Community Conversation Input Themes created 10 Goals.
1. Balanced Land Use
2. Reinvestment
3. Development Framework
4. Historic Preservation
5. Effective Communication
6. Housing & Neighborhoods
7. High Quality Infrastructure
8. Land Use that Enables Partnership
9. Integrate Greenspace & Recreation
10. Maintain High Quality Services as We Grow
Staff reviewed the 2022 UDC Annual Review Process and gave a power point presentation of the
timeline.
Committee member Stevens voiced concern on updates being suggested by the Committee, but the
consultant deems it not important. It was suggested to create a list of items for the Committee
worth addressing in the UDC.
Staff reviewed the Condo Regime Executive Amendment and stated the The City has retained
Freese & Nichols to provide guidance on UDC amendments specific to single-family condo
developments. Staff stated the Consultant will be working with staff into next year to determine
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UDC Advisory Committee 3
November 10, 2021
recommendations for code changes to resolve conflicts between these types of developments and
UDC standards for design standards, utility infrastructure and extensions, right-of-way
requirements, building permits, etc.
Staff informed the Committee the Planning Department is looking at hiring a Principal Planner who
may be more involved with the Unified Development Committee and process.
Staff reviewed the 2022 UDC Annual Review Process for each quarter.
Staff stated they will send out a running list of items to the UDC Committee for review.
The Committee decided the next meeting will be Wednesday, December 8th at 3:30.
Adjournment: Motion to adjourn at 4:39 p.m.
_____________________________________ __________________________________
PJ Stevens, Attest Attest, Phillip Wanke, Secretary
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City of Georgetown, Texas
Unified Development Code Advisory Committee
December 8, 2021
S UB J E C T:
Dis cus s ion on potential 2022 Annual R eview, potential items , process, and timeline– S ofia Nelson,
P lanning Direc tor, Travis Baird, As s t. P lanning Director-C urrent P lanning, Ethan Harwell, S enior P lanner
IT E M S UMMARY:
T he C ity of G eorgetown has seen signific ant growth and change during 2021. T his has led to les s ons
learned, and there are opportunities for improvement of the UDC with the 2022 Annual Update.
Reflect on P rior Process:
T he 2020/21 Annual R eview generated some s ignificant improvements to the c ode, inc luding the first
updates to the C ity’s Tree P res ervation code s ection in over 5 years, and included subject matter that was
exc eptionally tec hnical and complex. P rior to beginning the next update, it is recommended to review the
previous update process to determine best prac tic es , identify ineffic ienc ies , and areas for improvement.
W hat within the process worked best?
W hat s hould be replicated?
W hat parts of the las t, or prior reviews, are not desirable to continue?
S taff Identified Items
S taff has identified 5 items , generally, the review of whic h provide opportunities for improvement in the
code. T hes e include:
S hot C loc k updates . T hes e are updates to the code to recognize the c hanges brough about by legis lation
pas s ed in 2019. W hile the C ity has updated practices and procedures to ens ure compliance with this
legislation, including applic ation timing and relationships , approval authority, etc .; these changes have not
been codified in the UDC .
Lighting. T he C ity has robus t lighting regulations within C hapter 7 of the UDC . However, these have not
been examined since 2017. A review and potential update would provide opportunity to examine the
current standards, and to provide opportunity to ens ure compliance with changes in S tate law s inc e the las t
update.
C ode Errors and Incons is tencies. P eriodic updates to the UDC , whether it is with the Annual R eview,
Exec utive Amendment, etc . can have far reac hing effects . T hroughout the code, there are multiple
examples of erroneous cross-references or dead-ends , repres enting defunc t of c hanged connec tions
between s ections which need to be remedied.
Hards hips and Varianc es . T he UDC allows for varianc es to some zoning and s ubdivis ion requirements, a
key c omponent of whic h is potential hards hip that application of a code s ection may create for an owner or
applicant. G eneral review both against legis lative updates and recent requests c ould provide opportunities
for updates to realign c ode sec tions with applic able c hanges in S tate law.
Building Design. C hanges in real es tate development in the pas t months/years are bec oming more apparent,
inc luding an inc reas ed demand for certain types of indus trial s pace. T he C ity’s current c ode language on
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building des ign c reates unique, and sometimes unnecessary, diffic ulties for this type of development. T his
has led to an increase in the number of reques t for adminis trative exc eptions , P UDs , etc . R eview of the
C ity’s building c riteria, espec ially as relates to roof pitc h, building articulation, and building features , could
have dramatic and pos itive impac ts on the quality of development and efficiency by whic h it could pass
through the C ity’s process.
2022 UD C Annual Review Timeline:
During the November meeting, a desire was expressed to inc reas e the s peed by whic h the Annual R eview
could be completed. T his, c oupled with the need to c omplete reviews in a time period whic h reduc es
opportunity for interference with the upcoming UDC Diagnostic, have led to the need to dis cus s an
advanced timeline for completion.
F IN AN C IAL IMPAC T:
None s tudied at this time.
S UB MIT T E D B Y:
Travis Baird, As s is tant P lanning Direc tor-C urrent P lanning
AT TAC H ME N T S:
Description Type
Pres entation Pres entation
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1
UDCAC
2022 Annual Review
Discussion
UDC Advisory Committee
December 8, 2021
Page 9 of 16
2
Purpose
•Discuss items and identify selection for UDC Annual Update.
•Goal for today is select an item for focus at January meeting.
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3
Agenda
❑Reflect on previous update
❑Discuss Items Identified by Staff
❑Discuss expected schedule
❑Set expectations for January Meeting
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4
Reflect on Previous Update
•What worked best?
•What components of the prior Annual Update do we wish to continue or replicate?
•What were some facets of the process that we felt brought particular value:
•To the specific code sections updated?
•To the entire process?
•What didn’t work?
•Where can we improve?
•What components of the process do we wish to not see come back?
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5
Staff Identified Items
Shot Clock Update
Recognize the shot clock process in
our code, including timeline,
application requirement, removal of
references to administrative approval,
etc.
Lighting
Review Code for adoption of Dark Skies
requirements. Current code does not include
dark skies language, undermining ability to
enforce lighting regulations currently existing in
the code
Building Design
Review Code updates for
potential changes to building
design that would remove
barriers to increasingly popular
development types. Ex. Roof
pitch, articulation, building
features
Code Errors
and
Inconsistencies
Identify and update
erroneous code
references and
inconsistencies in
direction with the
UDC
Hardships and
Variances
Review for code updates
regarding hardships
caused by application of
to ensure compliance
with Legislative updates.
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11
Discussion
•Pros/Cons of each item
•Each item presents opportunities to provide positive feedback.
•However, several items are largely textual changes with little opportunity for review of technical components, or impact to future standards.
•Timing and Constraints
•Move to more aggressive timelines for completion
•Generally faster completion
•Moving through items before the diagnostic
•Goal for today
•Select an item for focus at January meeting
•Ask where do we want to go? What impact do we want to have in first half of 2022.
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12
2022 UDC Annual Review Process
UDCAC discuss
potential list of
amendments
In depth
UDCAC
review of
selected
item
UDCAC
proposal
forwarded to
Council for
Review
Coding/
Drafting
work
Public
Outreach
UDCAC final
review
Council
Approval
January February/MarchDecember April May
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13
Summary & Discussion
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
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