Overlay district postponed in Duluth

The Duluth City Council on Monday night tabled a plan to create overlay districts along Buford Highway and in downtown Duluth.

Creating such a district along busy Buford Highway would bring the area under the city’s more stringent zoning codes. City codes favor more uniform and traditional architecture and building materials and more consideration to pedestrians.

Planning Director Clifford Cross said the ordinance was “just being fine-tuned.” After incorporating comments from the council, Cross said, the plan would go back to the legal department for review, and then come before the council at its next meeting, which will be 7 p.m. Sept. 8.

The biggest change, Cross said, would be in removing a couple of allowed uses completely, though the topic is still being debated, he said, and could change.

Types of commercial development that could be disallowed completely in future development of the area are modular home sales, used auto dealerships, auto repair businesses and pawn shops, Cross said.

— Eileen Drennen