The Oakdale City Council has slated for its next meeting, Monday, April 20, to discuss amending the current Municipal Code to make it easier for large retail developments to come to the city.

According to Public Services Director Thom Clark, current zoning code requirements for shopping centers and other major retail development sites require the properties to go through the planning development process.

The procedure requires the property to be processed as a zone change. Zone changes require a text amendment of the Municipal Code as well as two public hearings at the city council level.

In his proposal, Clark stated, “this is not only an unnecessary step because of the level of detail involved in the development of a specific plan but also a burden on new commercial development proposed inside of the specific plan area.”

The City of Oakdale is currently working with developers on two different commercial areas. One is in the Crane Crossing Specific Plan and the other is in the East F Street Specific Plan area. Both of these commercial areas have been pre-zoned commercial and both have gone through the specific plan adoption. The proposed development in Sierra Point is anticipated to have the same lengthy process if the code is not amended.

The Oakdale City Council meeting will be held at the council chambers at 277 N. Second Ave. and starts at 7 p.m.

Look to the April 22 edition of The Leader for the full story on Monday’s meeting.