LOCK HAVEN — Lock Haven City Council was provided with an updated portion of its zoning ordinance, as city staff works with a consultant to update both the zoning and Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO).

The goal for the updates is to make each easier to understand for those interested in property development within the city.

On Monday night, City Planner/Interim Manager Abbey Roberts told council the portion they were given — Article III: Districts — was reviewed by the consultant (Michael Baker International), city staff, the zoning update steering committee and the city planning commission already.

“The point of this is so you don’t get a whole big zoning ordinance in May or June. You can take a look at it in pieces,” she said.

Article III deals with the break up of portions of the city into a variety of districts that include:

— Conservation: Open Space and Recreation (OSP).

— Residential: Low Density Residential (LDR); Medium Density Residential (MDR) and High Density Residential (HDR).

— Mixed-Use: Riverfront (RIV); Downtown Core (DTC); and Mixed-Use (MXU).

— Commercial District: Campus (CMP); and Healthcare (HCR).

— Industrial: Industrial (IND) and Airport (AIR).

The draft ordinance notes the city is divided into these 14 zoning districts which will be governed by regulations contained within the ordinance.

Roberts pointed out a few of the revisions in the ordinance. The first is the addition of a riverfront district along the levee.

“We have heard throughout the years that there is a lack of connection with the river,” she said. “This district will allow properties along the levee to build higher so they can see over the levee.”

Roberts said the draft would allow a maximum of 65 feet in height, or six stories, to be built in this section.

“But of course that’s the maximum. It’s whatever anyone wants. You get to three or four stories and you can see over the levee,” she said.

The other change was the inclusion of mixed-use in some neighborhoods.

“Instead of extending the downtown core, we’re looking at how our commercial districts spread up Bellefonte Avenue. So you hit mixed use and then neighborhood commercial which is a little different in character and use,” she said.

Building Code Official Cyndi Walker, who is also working with the consultant for the updates, said she didn’t need to add much more to Roberts’s comments.

“We’ve got a lot of people that are involved — a steering committee, focus groups, different people that were interested in it. We appreciate all of them,” she said.

Walker encouraged the council to take time and review the information.

“If you have any comments or questions, reach out to any of us,” she said. “All in all I think we’re happy with what we have in taking into consideration all the concerns from focus groups and committees.”

Councilmember Barb Masorti said she appreciated the consistency in the updates.

“When we were on our tour around and talking about (different) neighborhoods it was clear that consistency was something that was going to become really important. I think this map reflects a real vision of consistency. But also for a way for future development,” she said.

Councilmember Jeff Brinker also expressed appreciation for the updates and the color coded map included. He asked Roberts to send him a copy of the old map so he could compare the two.

“I really appreciate this,” he said.