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Public invited to discuss new zoning regulations

The City of Duluth Planning Division invites the public to a Special Planning Commission Public Hearing to review and discuss the final draft of the new zoning regulations, the Unified Development Chapter (UDC) of the City of Duluth Legislative Code, on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 at 5:00 PM, City Hall, third floor Room 303 (411 West First Street). Citizens will have an opportunity to provide comments on the UDC during the public hearing.

The UDC will replace Chapter 50, Zoning Regulations, and other sections of the City’s Code dealing with zoning and development. The final UDC represents the culmination of an extensive community-involved process that began in earnest almost two years ago; the seed for its development was planted four years ago when on June 26, 2006 the City Council adopted the Comprehensive Land Use Plan. It was the City’s first officially adopted Comprehensive Plan since 1927.

“The City is very excited to be nearing the end of this momentous initiative! We are confident that the UDC will help us achieve the policies and goals outlined in the Comprehensive Plan and attract new development that will contribute to a vibrant and sustainable community”, says Cindy Petkac, the City’s Land Use Supervisor. 

In addition to implementing the 2006 Comprehensive Land Use Plan, the UDC incorporates best practices in zoning and land use regulation from around the country while carrying forward what works in Duluth. Critical to the development of the UDC has been the broad public participation process led by a citizens group, the Zoning Advisory Committee, and a Technical Advisory Committee made up of city and public agency staff. The process has included 17 public meetings, which were attended by over 500 people; 32 meetings with various stakeholders; and several updates to the City Council.

Information has been continuously provided and updated on the City’s Planning Division webpage. The City’s outreach efforts resulted in 350 comments from the public meetings, by phone, email, and website. Comments were thoroughly reviewed by staff and reflect many of the changes incorporated into the final document, which can be found on the City’s website - http://www.duluthmn.gov/planning/udc/udc_draft.cfm

Following the Planning Commission meeting, the City Council will host three Committee of the Whole meetings to discuss the UDC in greater detail. The schedule for those meetings is as follows:

July 12, 2010 at 5:00 p.m.       Article 2, Zone Districts, & Article 4, Development Standards

July 19, 2010 at 5:00 p.m.       Article 3, Permitted Uses, & Article 5, Administration/Procedures

This project was funded in part by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the Coastal Zone Management Act from the NOAA’s Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, in cooperation with Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal Program.

For additional information, contact Cindy Petkac, Land Use Supervisor, at (218) 730-5580.

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