USDO Review

The City of Albany Common Council adopted the Unified Sustainable Development Ordinance (USDO) on May 15, 2017, to be effective June 1, 2017.  The USDO was the result of a 2.5-year effort to comprehensively rewrite the City’s zoning ordinance and other relevant land development regulations, such as the sign ordinance and the land subdivision handbook.  The existing regulations were in many cases in excess of 40 years old, were no longer consistent with best practices in the discipline and were frequently in conflict with the stated goals and objectives of the Albany 2030 Comprehensive Plan.

Pursuant to Section §375-5(E)(24)(d)(i), the USDO was adopted with a built-in evaluation period.  The purpose of this evaluation period is to shield against any potential unintended consequences that may result from adopting these comprehensive changes without first applying them in practice.  The ordinance directs the Planning Staff to compile a list of concerns or unintended consequences that may arise through the application of the USDO to specific projects, building permit applications, and public comment.  Where the Chief Planning Official (CPO) finds sufficient grounds for the code to be amended, the CPO shall draft and propose changes pursuant to Section §375-5(E)(24) (Amendments to Zoning Map or USDO Text).