Institutional zoning to be discussed in April
Planning commission considers zoning district for schools and hospitals
During the regular meeting Thursday of Hillsboro Community Planning and Development Commission, Garrett asked the commission to consider institutional zoning.
Currently, the city's zoning mixes churches, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and day care centers with residential use.
"We need something that takes the differences of the different purposes into consideration," said Garrett.
In the city's medium residential districts, churches are not allowed.
"This is an oversight," said Garrett, as there are several churches located in medium residential districts.
The residential districts are designed for residential uses with residential setbacks and height requirements.
John Riggs, planning and zoning consultant, said Lindsborg is a city similar to Hillsboro and has institutional zoning in place. He said institutional zoning could be an overlay district but recommended a separate district.
At some point, each entity will be contacted to discuss rezoning.
"We're not going to do speculative zoning (long range planning)," explained Garrett, "but we do want to zone the land for current and immediate potential use."
Garrett distributed a sample of a college and institutional (S-I) district provided by John Riggs, planning and zoning consultant. The sample is the zoning district for Lindsborg.
The allowed uses in a S-I district would be single family dwellings, residential design manufactured housing, colleges and universities of higher learning (including dormitory accommodations), vocational-technical schools, public and private elementary and secondary schools, hospitals, libraries, nursing homes, churches and similar places of worship, child care, adult care, museums, home occupations, and group homes.
In addition, any public building or land used by a governmental entity would be allowed.
A lot where a single-family dwelling is erected shall contain an area of not less than 5,000 square feet per family and shall not cover more than 40 percent of the lot. Buildings shall not cover more than 60 percent of the area of the tract.
No building shall exceed 45 feet in height. Single family dwellings shall have a 25-foot front and rear yard setback with an eight-foot side yard setback.
Institutional uses must have 15-foot front and rear yard setbacks with a eight-foot minimal side yard setback. Parking lots may be constructed within eight feet of the rear property line.
Garrett will bring more information to the next development meeting for discussion.
A request has been received by the city for annexing 20 acres south of Park Village. The annexation by consent will be approved or denied by the city council. However, input from the development commission is important, explained Riggs.
The area is subject to flooding, reported Garrett, for which the city's zoning regulations have a provision.
The land would come in to the city as agricultural land, as suggested by the zoning regulations.
If subdivided for development, an engineer would conduct a flood study. Development would be required a minimum of one-foot above the recommended elevation.
The commission will meet at 7 p.m. April 29 at city hall.
