City Code Amendments Development Services

City Code Amendments
Development Services
City Council Work Session
April 24, 2023

Background
July 
2020
Feb.
2021
April 
2022
Amendments Phase 1
Council Approval
Amendments Phase 2
Beginning Process-
Subcommittee Meeting 
City Council Work Session
Long Term Deliverables

Meeting Intent 
Identify Code/Policy Issues 
Introduce Amendment Options
Seek City Council Input
Potential Code Amendments Address:    
Economic Vitality 
Neighborhoods 
Quality of Life 
Sustainability & Technology

Economic Vitality
Targeted use of adaptive reuse, infill, mixed-use and 
redevelopment tools and plans supporting the 
vitality of commercial centers and neighborhoods. 
High development standards incorporating 
innovative aesthetics and amenities in our built 
environment. 
A predictable development process based on 
exceptional customer service and finding creative 
ways to get to “yes.”
Strategic Policy & Focus Areas

Neighborhoods
Amenities, infrastructure and services that support 
community safety and align with the needs of people in 
the surrounding neighborhood.
Quality of Life
Unique amenities and experiences that attract people to 
Chandler.
Sustainability and Technology
Leading in the sustainability of water infrastructure and 
conservation.
Strategic Policy & Focus Areas

Economic Vitality 
Potential Code Changes

Modify Required Setbacks within Certain Areas 
Challenge: Required building and 
landscaping setbacks accommodate 
large suburban site development
Current:
50’ (arterial)  30’ (non-arterial) setbacks
50’ x 250’ landscaping at intersections
Proposal:
Create administrative ability to reduce 
on certain sites when development 
proposes a high quality of design

Modify Required Setbacks within Certain Areas
Current: Building and landscaping 
setbacks accommodate large 
suburban site development
50’ (arterial)  30’ (non-arterial)  setbacks
50’ x 250’ landscaping at intersections
Proposal:
Create administrative ability to 
reduce on certain sites where 
developer proposes a heightened 
pedestrian oriented design

Modify Requirements for Free-standing pad Buildings
Challenge: Market driven towards 
smaller building foot prints and more 
drive-through developments  
Current: One free-standing pad per 
arterial street; allowing two per 
development 
Proposal:
Eliminate maximum total number of 
pads if designed as integral part of the 
development

Modify Requirements for Drive Throughs 
Current: Queuing lanes shall provide 
150 feet from pick-up window to 
start of queue & provide minimum  
six vehicles from order box 
Challenge: Two lanes used to meet 
queuing requirements, but close one 
lane at certain times
Proposal:
One lane shall meet minimum 
queuing & additional lanes are 
considered bonus queuing

Modify Requirements for Drive Throughs 
Challenge: Businesses providing 
separate lane for online pick-up 
orders not meeting standard queue 
length 
Current: Queuing lanes shall provide 
150 feet from pick-up window to start 
of queue & provide minimum six 
vehicles from order box 
Proposal:
Establish minimum queuing for online 
pick-up lanes

Increase Height for Mid-Rise Overlay (MRO)
Current: Buildings over 45 feet tall 
need a MRO  
Challenge: MRO was intended to 
regulate buildings 5-stories in height 
or taller
Proposed floor heights & mechanical 
screening push 3 and 4 story buildings 
just over the 45 feet threshold
Proposal:
Increase MRO Height to 55 feet

Mechanical Screening
Challenge: Developers claim we’re 
“more restrictive than other cities”
Current: Roof-mounted mechanical 
equipment must be completely 
screened on all four sides and 
architecturally integrated into building 
design
Proposal:
Consider reducing screening to only 
street view within industrial 
Reduce requirement if equipment is 
located as to not be visible, i.e. 8-story 
building or center of roof

Enlarge Permitted Blade Sign Area
Current: Blade signs permitted to 
project two feet from a building 
as measured to edge of sign; four 
feet within City Center District 
Proposal:
Increase allowable projection and 
sign area, to be visible by drivers 
above colonnade
The Uncommon built at ten feet

Medical Parking Requirements
Challenge: Medical parking 
requirements too broad 
Current: Zoning Code requires
One space per 150 square feet 
for medical office; 
Hospitals 3 spaces per each 
bed
Proposal:
Consider defining outpatient 
surgery facilities and 
establishing required parking

Revise Uses Permitted in Non-residential Properties 
Current: Zoning Code is silent on 
relevant uses and not intuitive to 
navigate  
Proposal:
•
Reorganize table to group 
common uses 
•
Add relevant uses such as 
brewery, cloud kitchens, & adult 
day center
•
Permit greater amount of ancillary 
uses such as office or showroom 
within industrial

Use Permit Renewal, Enforcement  
Current: Not addressed by 
Zoning Code
Proposal:
Clarify when an application is 
filed and under the review 
process, enforcement may be 
stalled

Outdoor Speakers
Current: Businesses that sell 
alcohol without live music 
require an Entertainment Use 
Permit (EUP) for outdoor 
speakers within 600 feet of 
residential 
Proposal:
Where no live music is proposed, 
allow outdoor speakers without 
an EUP
City code will continue to 
mitigate nuisance

Current: All establishments operating 
under a bar license require a Use Permit; 
Issued by the state and reviewed by Tax 
& License 
Series 7 Beer & Wine Bar License 
Series 6 Bar License 
Challenge: Delays business’ opening 
Proposal:
Eliminate requirement for Use Permit for 
Series 7 Bar license 
Establishments Operating Under a Bar License

Quality of Life and Neighborhoods   
Potential Code Changes

Permit Single-Family in Multi-family Districts
Current: Single-family dwellings 
within a multi-family zoned property 
requires a Use Permit
Challenge: Legal non-conforming lots 
cannot rebuild a single-family home 
without a Use Permit or Rezoning
Proposal:
Permit single-family dwellings by right 
within certain multi-family zoned 
properties; limited to lots of a certain 
square footage

Allow Residential Access from Alleys
Current: Prohibits primary driveway and 
pedestrian access from alleys
*Alleys need to accommodate other 
requirements such as public/private 
utilities, lighting, drainage, ADA 
accessibility, etc
Challenge: Site layout and conflicts with 
architectural aesthetics, safety, and 
walkability

Allow Residential Access from Alleys
Proposal:
Allow access from alleys where safe and 
consider improving alleys when feasible 
in certain areas around Downtown  
Location:
Where alleys exist within area bound by:
Galveston Street (North)
Delaware Street (East)
Frye Road (South)
Hartford Street (West)

Driveways and Front Yards
Current: Nothing in the Zoning Code 
prevents the front yard from being 
entirely paved 
All required off-street parking must 
be connected; additional driveways 
to access rear yards 
Proposed:
Establish maximum percentage of 
hardscape within front yards
Eliminate requirement for areas to 
be connected

Permit Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU’s)
Single-Family District
Current: Single-family 
properties allow for a guest 
quarters with no cooking unit 
and cannot be connected to 
separate meter
Proposal:
Consider permitting ADU’s by 
right within single-family 
zoned properties meeting 
requirements for accessory 
buildings; setbacks and height

Home-Based Businesses
Current: Zoning Code is silent; by 
policy permitted if no customers or
employees who don’t live at home
Conducted completely within house
Proposal:
Consider permitting certain uses 
with limited number of clients for 
home-based businesses when not 
negatively impact the surrounding 
neighborhood
Examples: piano lessons, seamstress

Reduce Setbacks for Residential Swimming Pools
Current: Five foot setback is 
required as measured from 
property line
Proposal:
Revise to align with building 
code requirements; three feet 
from any horizontal plane

Increase Size of Residential Open Air Ramadas
Current: Maximum square footage 
for an open air ramada is 150 square 
feet & maximum height ten feet
No limit to amount of ramadas; must 
be separated by one foot 
Proposal:
Increase maximum square footage 
to 200 square feet

Neighborhood Perimeter Walls
Current: Code does not require minimum 
wall height or consider grade differences 
between adjacent developments
Challenge: Privacy screening and possible 
safety concerns for between development
Proposal:
Add a requirement to maintain or provide a 
minimum six foot high perimeter wall for 
new developments abutting existing 
residential areas
Measured from the highest point within 5 
feet of the wall

Prohibit Double Walls
Challenge: New development 
prefer to build new fence adjacent 
to existing development 
Safety concerns
Current: Zoning Code is silent on 
double walls
Proposal:
Codify restriction of prohibiting 
double walls and outline a 
resolution process

Holiday Lights in City Right-of-Way
Current: Requires multi-departmental 
review and approval, which is time 
consuming and confusing to the 
applicant
Proposal:
Simplify with a no-fee encroachment 
permit to be issued by the 
Development Engineering Division

Conversion of Alley to Curbside Collection for
Garbage
Current: Clarify code language to align with 
current practice
…where a neighborhood wishes to convert…
Proposal:
…where a neighborhood votes to convert…

Right Size Multi-family Parking Requirements
Current: Zoning Code requires 
covered & uncovered parking 
spaces per unit
Proposal:
Increase required amount of 
parking for multi-family
Require a free assigned space 
within the development for 
each unit 
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
Guest
Totals
Required Parking for Multi-family per City

Guest Parking Requirements
Current: Zoning Code does not 
require designated guest spaces; 
policy to provide guest spaces 
throughout development
Proposal:
Require guest parking spaces if 
parking on-street is unavailable 
within development; spaces shall 
be distributed evenly throughout 
development

Murals
Challenge:
Mural with associated text can be 
considered signage
Current: Not addressed by Zoning Code
Proposal:
Clearly distinguish signage from murals 
Allow murals by right so long that 
they are not considered to be a sign

Sustainability & Technology 
Potential Code Changes

Water Conservation for Landscaping 
Current: Zoning Code establishes maximum 
amount of turf permitted per land use
Proposal: 
Encourage Xeriscape landscaping to reduce  
amount of reclaimed water used
Discourage non-functional turf for new 
non-residential developments 
Require smart irrigation controllers all new 
developments
Discourage overseeding of winter lawns

Public Works Modifications 
Priority of Delivery
Clarify “supply” and “shortage”
Storage Requirements
Accommodate non-irrigation users 
with storage tanks
Operations of Turnout Structures
Include large users without City 
controlled turnout structure
Reclaimed Water

Buildings Constructed of Shipping Containers  
Challenge: Increase requests 
from developers to use as main 
material; commercial & residential 
Current: Not addressed by 
Zoning Code, however, metal 
buildings cannot be used along 
arterial roads 
Proposal:
Consider allowing for buildings to 
use shipping containers if 
designed creatively

Addressing 
Update Street Name Address Protocols 
(SNAPs) to reflect current use
Evaluate SNAPs requirements as they 
apply to infill developments
Align SNAPSs Administration to 
current practices

Satellite Dish Regulations
Current: Zoning Code restricts 
height, location, and size of 
satellite dishes 
Proposal: 
Remove from Zoning Code to 
align with federal law

Next Steps
May 
2023
Planning and Zoning Commission Work Session 
Prepare Draft of Ordinance Revisions
Stakeholder Outreach
Planning and Zoning Commission
October  
City Council Adoption
2023

Questions?