Altoona Plan Commission Discusses Phase II Zoning Code Rewrite - February 11, 2025

The Altoona Plan Commission met on Tuesday, February 11, 2025 at 4:30 PM in the Council Chambers. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Brendan Pratt. Roll call was taken with all members present except Sue Roll (who joined later via Zoom). The Commission unanimously approved the minutes of the December 10, 2024 meeting. The primary agenda item was an update and discussion on Phase II of the zoning and development code rewrite, presented by Planning Director Taylor Greenwell. The discussion covered proposed changes to landscaping, parking, fencing, building design standards, and signage. Commissioners and community members provided feedback and guidance on the proposed ordinance revisions. No formal decisions were made, but the Planning Director received direction to refine the draft based on the discussion.

Consent Calendar

• The minutes of the December 10, 2024 Regular Plan Commission Meeting were approved unanimously by voice vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public spoke during the Citizens Participation Period.

Discussion Items

• Phase II Zoning & Development Code Rewrite Update: Taylor Greenwell presented an overview of the code rewrite project, which aims to replace the city's 50-year-old code with modernized standards. The presentation focused on development standards (parking, landscaping, fencing), building design standards (materials, glazing, architectural variety), and signage regulations. Key points of discussion included:

  • Landscaping: The proposal expands building foundation landscaping from 5 to 7 feet and increases tree counts. Transition zones between uses were introduced, ranging from Type A (5 ft) to Type D. Commissioners generally supported enhanced landscaping but raised concerns about cost and maintenance, especially regarding snow removal in parking lot islands.
  • Fencing: The commission discussed permitted materials (chain link and vinyl were broadly accepted), maximum heights (front yards: 4 ft; rear: 6 ft for residential, 8 ft for multi-unit/non-residential), and setbacks. A 5-foot offset from property lines was agreed for fences along public streets to preserve visibility and access, while interior side and rear lot lines may have fences placed directly on the line. Barbed wire will only be allowed in industrial/flex zones.
  • Building Design Standards: A long debate ensued over materials. The consensus was to expand the list of permitted materials (including vinyl, aluminum, wood) and focus on requiring a mix of materials (e.g., primary and secondary accents) rather than rigid percentage requirements. Glazing percentages were scaled back: downtown front facades to 35-40%, other districts to 10-15%, with lower percentages for side facades. Architectural variety standards for subdivisions were supported; the commission directed staff to develop a list requiring at least three varying characteristics, with a balance of architectural and superficial elements.
  • Signage: Pole signs will be permitted only in commercial, flex, and industrial districts. A conditional use permit process was maintained for pole signs. Multi-tenant signs will be allowed, sized based on frontage. Fences and signs near streets must account for clear sight triangles.

  (Note: The discussion was extensive and covered additional details such as shared parking incentives, bicycle parking, screening for trash/mechanical equipment, and potential affordability incentives for developers.)

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken on the proposed ordinance changes. The Commission provided broad policy direction to Planning Director Taylor Greenwell to:
  • Increase landscaping requirements but consider flexibility in implementation.
  • Allow chain link and vinyl fencing, restrict barbed wire to appropriate zones, and adopt a 5-foot road frontage setback for fences.
  • Expand the list of permissible exterior materials and adopt a primary-secondary material mix requirement with an emphasis on affordability.
  • Reduce glazing percentages significantly from initial proposals and focus on downtown for higher glazing.
  • Develop a clearer architectural variety standard for subdivisions requiring at least three varying characteristics from an expanded list.
  • Maintain pole sign limitations while allowing multi-tenant signs under conditional use permits.
• The final phase (subdivision and procedures) is underway, with full adoption anticipated in late spring or early summer 2025.