Department News
In June 2020 the Planning Department announced that it was initiating a full update of the Zoning Ordinance and the Subdivision Control Ordinance – bringing them together into one Uniform Development Ordinance or UDO. This new document will update and modernize the two 20+ year old ordinances in order to better direct development in the next decade. The department plans to release the draft document in February 2021.
Landscape Standards Update
On February 18, 2020 City Council approved an amendment to the City’s landscape standards in Article 7 of the Zoning Code. This amendment is a step taken to resolve consistent development issues involving the landscape code. In the past three years, there have been more than 30 waiver and/or variance requests for landscaping, which signified that old standards needed to be reassessed. The approved modifications should significantly reduce the number of waiver/variance requests, while still providing an acceptable quantity of landscaping on sites in Jeffersonville. As part of the amendment, staff also updated the lists for native trees as well as pest/nuisance trees, which will better assist in identifying those trees that are preferable and those that are not allowed to be planted in the City.
The Zoning Ordinance has been uploaded to the City’s website.
Accessory Structures, Height, Fence/Wall Standards Update
On March 16, 2020, the City Council approved an amendment to the City’s development standards in Article 7 of the Zoning Ordinance. This amendment revised the standards for accessory structures, as well as standards for fences and walls. This step was primarily taken to address some of the common issues and complaints that arise from the strict application of the Zoning Ordinance. These changes, among other things, will allow property owners on corner and through lots more flexibility in placing accessory structures and fences on their property. These changes will make the code a bit clearer, easier to use, and more compatible with recent development trends.
The revised Zoning Ordinance has been uploaded to the City’s website. The revisions to these standards can also be found here.opens PDF file
Sign Code Update
On September 3rd, 2019, Jeffersonville City Council approved an amendment to the City’s Zoning Ordinance relating to Signs. Planning Staff brought the amendments to Articles 7, 10 and 14 of the Zoning Ordinance to Council primarily to address some legal issues with the previous language. While making changes, we worked to streamline the document, improve formatting, and address some common permitting/enforcement issues that we regularly see in our office.
The new regulations can be found here: Sign Standards – revised Sept 2019opens PDF file
Neighborhood Commercial Updates & "Right-Size" Zoning along Small Business Corridors
Planning and Zoning is beginning an effort to “right-size” zoning in the small business corridors just outside of the Downtown area. These areas, between 10th St. and Eastern Blvd. along Spring St. and between Meigs Ave. and Main St. along Tenth Street, have a large number of small businesses operating in old houses or other small commercial structures. Unfortunately these businesses are currently zoned in the same manner as the big boxes and strip centers on the edges of town. This Big-box zoning makes it more difficult for them to make changes to their buildings, and fill spaces with small, start-up business.
Over the next several months we’ll be offering property owners in this area the opportunity to right-zone their property to the newly revised NC (neighborhood commercial) zone district, approved by Council on March 18, 2019, for no fee. This will help make their properties conforming to the zoning code and remove hurdles to investment in the area.
To see the revised use table click here: Section-4.5-Revised-Mar-2019 opens PDF file The revised development standards can be found here: Section-4.6-Revised-Mar-2019opens PDF file
