Okay, I think we're uh ready to get started with the study session.

I love it.

Um call to order this uh study session uh September 1st, 2026.

We'll take the role.

Mayor Scott Anderson.

Here.

Vice Mayor Chuck Bon Giovanni.

Here.

Councilmember Bobby Buckley.

Here.

Council Member Young or Kenny Bucklinie and Komprowski are not present.

Council Member Monty Lyons.

I am here.

And Councilmember Jim Torgeson.

I am present.

A quorum is present.

Javili, do we know if either of those two are going to be online?

Uh they are currently not online.

Uh Councilmember Kaprowski was not going to be in attendance tonight.

Councilmember Bucklin uh was tentative.

So I'm watching online just to see if he joins, and I'll let you know if that's the case.

Thank you.

We have one agenda item presentation and discussion on Z2608 LDC text amendment regarding unmanned aircraft, unmanned aircraft systems and commercial drone delivery systems.

Hi there, good evening, council.

Good evening.

Kristen Devine, I'm a senior planner with the town.

The case I have for you tonight is going to be regarding a text amendment to the land development code.

We're looking for feedback tonight regarding the term changes, the use regulation changes that we're proposing, and also a new section of the land development code that we've drafted regarding unmanned aircraft, unmanned aircraft systems, and commercial drone delivery systems.

It takes effect in September.

This bill is regarding essentially drones, unmanned aircraft, their associated systems.

What it does is limit municipal regulation on the unmanned aircraft and their associated systems.

So essentially within that bill, it highlights what municipalities can and cannot regulate.

Essentially, we can regulate public unmanned aircraft that's owned by the town.

And we can also regulate commercial drone delivery on town-owned property.

And then I did want to highlight that although the regul uh the legislation does not require us to adopt code language, we just wanted to be proactive by establishing some guidelines on where the associated structures with these systems can be located within the town, um, largely to to protect our residential areas.

Um so just a little bit of context before we move forward, in case you're unfamiliar with the terms that we'll be using.

This is a drone drop box.

Um it is used for the pickup of goods, let's say from a Chipotle or like a Walmart, something like that.

Uh the drone is it sent into the little box, it's loaded up with goods, and then it flies away and takes it off to wherever it's being delivered to.

These are drone docking stations.

It's where when the drones are not in use, they are docked to charge.

Uh typically these are around two stories, uh 20 feet to 30 feet tall.

They can be standalone or they can also be attached to the building.

All right, so a summary of the changes that we're proposing are going to be referencing terms.

We would like to add definitions that we did get from the legislation uh regarding unmanned aircraft, commercial drone, model aircraft, public unmanned aircraft, unmanned aircraft system, commercial drone delivery system, drone docking station, and drone drop box.

And again, those terms are consistent with the definitions adopted as part of House Bill 2875.

Um, we also would like to amend the use regulations table by adding docking stations as a permitted use in all non-residential zoning districts, and amend the table to add two additional limitations.

Drone docking stations and drone drop boxes within 2.5 miles of an airport shall provide proof of consultation with the airport as established in the House bill as part of the application package, and drone docking stations shall not be located within 150 feet of residential zoning districts, consistent with the regulation limitations within that House Bill.

And then we would also like to add drone drop boxes as a permitted use in all non-residential zoning districts, with the limitation that they may not be located within 50 feet of a residential zoning district.

And then we're also proposing to add an entirely new section 5.11 regarding unmanned aircraft, their systems, and commercial drone delivery systems.

Um these are just some pictures, additional pictures of drop boxes and docking stations.

Just to get a better idea of what they can look like.

And these are those definitions in the term section that I mentioned earlier.

We would also like to amend the term uh structure just to be specific in the fact that we do consider drone docking stations and drone drop boxes structures, so they do need to meet applicable setbacks for the zoning districts that they're located in.

All right, and again, just a summary of what it is that we're asking for.

This is the code language from the new section that we're including 5.11 within residential zoning districts and any district within 150 feet of a residential zoning district.

Uh the commercial drones are prohibited from landing anywhere in that area unless within an approved drone drop box or for a delivery.

Uh drone docking station shall not be located in any residential zoning districts or within 150 feet.

And drone drop boxes shall not be located in residential zoning districts or within 50 feet.

Uh the difference between the 50 feet and the 150 feet, we felt like the drop boxes were a bit less impactful than the docking stations themselves, and they'll be utilized by more uses such as drive-throughs again, like in Chipotle or something like that, which is typically found closer to a neighborhood.