Label
Zoning & Planning Committee
Title
Amending Toledo Municipal Code (TMC), Part Eleven, Subsection 1111.0814 Site Plan Review; Lapse of Approval, and declaring an emergency.
Summary
SUMMARY & BACKGROUND:
The request is a study of the Site Plan Review approval period. This study examines whether the current approval period, as outlined in the Toledo Municipal Code (TMC) ?1111.0814 - Lapse of Approval, of one (1) year is feasible for development and whether other jurisdictions in Ohio have similar approval periods. Additionally, this study examines the approval periods of other Plan Commission reviews as dictated by the TMC to determine whether all approval periods are the same length of time.
The primary concern that staff has with the current approval period for Site Plan Reviews is that projects which were previously approved have had to be reapplied for and re-reviewed because developers were unable to apply for building permits before the site plan approval expiration. Staff has heard feedback that securing project funding and finalizing building plans has taken more time than previous years, and more recently projects are being further delayed due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the TMC has no avenue for developers to apply for a site plan approval period extension. Having to rereview site plans costs time for Plan Commission staff and for commenting City Departments and agencies, as well as costing time and money for applicants.
Zoning Code Research
An analysis of other jurisdiction's Zoning Codes was completed to determine the most common site plan approval period, as well as whether or not extensions can be requested by applicants. Research found that most site plan approval periods in other jurisdictions are longer than the City of Toledo's current policy. Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Youngstown require construction to begin two (2) years after plan approval, whereas Detroit's approval lasts for three (3) years. C...
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