The first draft of the Unified Development Code (UDC), a consolidation of the Zoning Ordinances and Subdivision Regulations, will be available for public review in the coming weeks after three years of work on the project.

Project Background

In 2008, almost 15 years since the last comprehensive evaluation, the City of Arlington began the process of evaluating and updating its codes because the Zoning Ordinances and Subdivision Regulations contained inconsistencies and redundancies due to numerous amendments through the years.

To avoid conflicting information, make it more efficient for users, and bring consistency throughout the City, Arlington desired a new UDC that put all the information in one place in a simple, easy-to-use format.

The Process
To assist with the complex task, Arlington enlisted the services of Clarion Associates, a national land-use and real estate consulting firm, as well as White & Smith and Jim Dougherty, Esq.

The consultants have spent the last three years reviewing current code and gathering input from a variety of sources that include the Zoning Advisory Committee, Planning and Zoning Commission, Zoning Board of Adjustment, City Council, and City staff.

The Zoning Advisory Committee was made specifically for this project to represent neighborhoods, the development community, and other interested stakeholders.

Besides interviewing key community delegates about the strengths and weaknesses of the current code, the consultants toured Arlington to see first-hand how code issues translate into real-world problems.

The result of the process thus far is the first draft of the UDC developed specifically for the City based on its goals, existing code, and current issues. The draft consolidated almost 1,400 pages of code into one 550-page document.

What's Next
In the coming weeks, Arlington will launch a public outreach program to encourage residents to provide feedback about the Unified Development Code. The City will set up a webpage with the first UDC draft, a summary of the draft, and the current ordinance documents, as well as instructions for providing comment.

Besides using the City's marketing and advertising mediums to communicate with the general public, Arlington plans to send an email alert to professionals who work with the City often to solicit feedback.

In addition to submitting input online, residents will be able to share their comments at community meetings. Dates and times will be announced in the near future.

After a sufficient review period for public comment, the Planning and Zoning Commission will host a public hearing and provide its recommendations. Following that will be City Council consideration.

For more information, please contact Clayton Husband at 817-459-6668.