The details
Roman Forest City Attorney Scott Francis provided the overview during the council’s Nov. 17 meeting.
In September, council members approved a comprehensive plan for the city, which Francis said laid the groundwork for potential zoning regulations.
“With the past enactment of the comprehensive plan in September, the council wanted to have me come give an overview of what kind of zoning laws and regulations the city can begin to enact and basically how that process works,” Francis said.
A closer look
Francis said the use of zoning ordinances would help guide development as the city grows and help ensure the city develops in a consistent manner.
“The purpose [of zoning regulations are to] lessen congestion in streets; secure safety from fire, panic and other dangers; promote health and general welfare; provide adequate light and air; prevent overcrowding, avoid a new concentration population; and facilitate the adequate provision of transportation, monitors, schools, parks and other necessities,” Francis said.
Francis noted the city’s comprehensive plan contained 10 potential land-use categories that could be used for zoning regulations, including:
- Single-family residential detached
- Single-family residential attached
- Manufactured and mobile housing
- Neighborhood commercial
- Public institutional
- Parks and recreation
- Forested and open space
- Agricultural
- Utilities and easements
- Vacant or undeveloped
- The height, number of stories and size of buildings or structures
- The percentage of a lot that can be occupied
- The size of yards, courts and other open spaces
- Population density
- The location and use of buildings, other structures and land for business, industrial, residential or other uses
Also of note
While not legally required, Francis said city officials also have the option to create a planning and zoning commission. Should the city choose to create a commission, Francis said it would be made up of five appointed individuals.
“[The commission] would not be an actual governing body, but it would be a recommending body,” Francis said. “They will create essentially a report to submit to council that goes over all the recommendations. ... [Once City Council] receives that initial report, they would conduct a public hearing and either approve or disapprove the commission's recommendations.”
What’s next
Francis said the city will next hold a public workshop to discuss how these potential ordinances could play out specifically in Roman Forest.
City Administrator Scott Castleberry said the workshop is tentatively planned to be held at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 17 at Roman Forest City Hall, located at 2430 Roman Forest Blvd., Roman Forest.
