Downtown Livability Code Downtown Livability Code SPI-1 Do SPI-1 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Downtown Livability Code Downtown Livability Code

SPI-1 Do SPI-1 Downtown Zoning Initiative Briefing wntown Zoning Initiative Briefing October 2007 October 2007

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Downtown Livability Code Downtown Livability Code

• The name given to the process developed to review and

update the zoning regulations that govern the physical growth and development of Downtown

• Partnership of City of Atlanta and Central Atlanta

Progress

• Collaborative stakeholder committee process began in

April 2002 - over 35 meetings held during process

• Staff and stakeholders assisted by consultants from

Urban Collage, Inc. and Tunnell-Spangler-Walsh

• Imagine Downtown vision plan adopted by City Council in

April 2006 recommends SPI-1 zoning changes and provides framework for goals of the initiative

• Final draft of proposed regulations reviewed and

approved with comments by 6 neighborhood

• rganizations and 4 NPUs (M, L, E and V)
• Substitute ordinance before ZRB August 2nd addresses

neighborhood comments

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Existing Downtown Zoning Existing Downtown Zoning

• Multiple districts including:

Special Public Interest zoning that are separate unique zoning districts, not overlays: SPI-1: Downtown SPI-2: North Avenue MARTA SPI-13: Centennial Olympic Park Area Conventional high density commercial core districts: C-4 and C-5 MLK Landmark Historic District

• More effective zoning

techniques have been developed and tested that encourage urban, mixed-use development

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Downtown Livability Code Goals Downtown Livability Code Goals

1. Create a vibrant 24-hour Downtown environment where people can live, work, meet, and play 2. Promote a mix of uses that support pedestrian activity and human interaction 3. Provide development standards for the street environment to enhance the public realm and encourage pedestrian activity throughout Downtown 4. Simplify the format to create a more user friendly ordinance that is clear and easy to use and understand

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General Approach General Approach

• Expand and combine current

Downtown zoning districts into one SPI-1 district for Downtown All SPI-1, SPI-2 and SPI-13 areas with C-4 and C-5 properties within Downtown core

• Create seven subareas to address

specific issues Protect historic resources and maintain existing commercial FAR permissions

• Tables used to organize
• requirements. Text written in plain,

easy to understand language

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Statement of Intent and Definitions Statement of Intent and Definitions

• Expand the Statement of Intent to increasingly focus on

promoting an active, lively and safe sidewalk environment and improving the aesthetic quality of the street and built environment Combination of existing SPI-1 and SPI-13 statements plus points regarding historic resources (in particular related to Fairlie-Poplar and Terminus)

• Add a definitions section consistent with City ‘Quality of Life’

district definitions to address commonly used terms Terms like sidewalk clear zone, sidewalk level, storefront street, street furniture and tree planting zone, supplemental zone

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Permitted Uses Permitted Uses

• Adjust building and site use regulations to restrict and limit

uses determined incompatible with the future vision of Downtown Restrict hiring halls, adult businesses and independent parking structures and lots. Adopt new city-wide definitions for dormitories, fraternity/sorority houses and personal care homes. Added design criteria for some uses like gas stations and drive-through establishments

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Development Controls Development Controls

• Provide additional development permission in the form of an increased FAR for

residential uses

• Reserve opportunity to provide workforce housing density bonus to be consistent

with city-wide Inclusionary Zoning initiative

• No public space requirements and usable open space requirements reduced

Varies 3.2 & 6.4 7,10 & 25

Current

17 7 10

Proposed

SA SA 3 3 Current C-4, C-5 and SPI-1 10.2 3.2 7

Current

11 4 7

Proposed

SA SA 4 4 Current C-4 20 10 10

Current

20 10 10

Proposed

SA SA 5 5 Current SPI-13 31.4 6.4 25

Current

32 7 25

Proposed

SA SA 6 6 Current SPI-1 31.4 6.4 25

Current

18.4 6.4 12

Current Proposed Proposed Current Proposed

31.4 6.4 25 32 19 35 Maximum Achievable Combined FAR 7 7 10 Residential Maximum FAR w/out Workforce Housing Bonus Reserved Residential Maximum Workforce Housing Bonus FAR 25 12 25 Non-residential Maximum FAR SA SA-7

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Current SPI-1 SA SA 2 2 Current SPI-2 SA SA 1 1 Current SPI-1

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Sidewalks Sidewalks

• Standardize sidewalk requirements throughout district with emphasis on required

elements of sidewalks (i.e. minimum widths, materials, trees and lighting)

• Update Pedestrian Space Plan Map to identify sidewalk width requirements.

Proposed SPI-1 requires a base 15’-0” sidewalk and wider in some locations.

• Provide regulations for informal outdoor dining on sidewalks

15’

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Supplemental Zone Supplemental Zone

• Supplemental Zones enrich the sidewalk experience by encouraging outdoor dining

and merchandise displays.

• Regulations define and regulate supplemental zones to enhance sidewalk space

adjacent to building and behind clear zone. Depending on the location they are prohibited, allowed or required

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Relationship of Buildings to Streets Relationship of Buildings to Streets

Entirely new section of the chapter to provide additional detailed regulations that govern the relationship between buildings and sidewalks and streets

• Active ground floor uses required in all

structures

• Windows are required and blank walls are

limited along sidewalks,

• Floor to ceiling heights established
• Building entrances must be visible, articulated

and accessible to sidewalk

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Storefront Streets Storefront Streets

• Primary pedestrian streets with higher storefront window requirements to

encourage street-level retail uses. Examples include Peachtree Street and Broad Street

• Restrictions placed on curb cuts and minimum active use depth

requirements

18”

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Driveways, Curb Cuts and Parking Structures Driveways, Curb Cuts and Parking Structures

• Driveways: Number and width

restricted

• Sidewalk materials shall continue

across driveways

• Drive-through and drive-in facilities and

their design are restricted

• Parking structures should have the

appearance of a horizontal storied building, be architecturally cohesive with the surrounding block faces and building uses and conceal automobiles

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Off-Street Parking and Loading Off-Street Parking and Loading

• Parking Limitation District surrounding MARTA N-S

rail line retained

• Minimum parking requirements eliminated

(particularly for residential uses) and maximum allowed spaces capped for all uses

• Bicycle and moped parking requirements expanded
• Loading requirements reduced and shared

arrangements allowed

• Landscaping, signage and operational guidelines:

Current parking lot regulations that include expanded to apply to all parking facilities

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Transportation Management Plans Transportation Management Plans

• Regulations added that support

transportation demand management activities

• Office developments over 25,000 square

feet require a Transportation Management Plan to establish plans, alternatives and strategies to reduce single occupant vehicle trips

• Priority carpool and van pool parking

required, as well as shower facilities in

• ffice buildings
• Bike and moped parking required

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Subareas Subareas 6 and 7: Fairlie-Poplar and Terminus 6 and 7: Fairlie-Poplar and Terminus

• Provide more detailed regulations for areas of historic

significance, including Fairlie-Poplar and the Terminus/Hotel Row area

Atlanta Urban Design Commission staff review and report Additional, more specific Storefront Street requirements Additional guidelines for balconies, awnings and canopies, windows and façade materials and delineation

• Does not change status of other historic properties:

demolition, exterior changes or additions to Landmark or Historic properties are subject to Atlanta Urban Design Commission approval

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Illustrative Drawings Illustrative Drawings

Added for clarity and to enhance understanding

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Development Review Committee Development Review Committee

• Proposal to re-make the existing SPI-13 Development Review

Committee (DRC) to expand the involvement and input of interested SPI-1 district property owners, business owners and residents in the review of proposed redevelopment projects

• The SPI-1 DRC is an advisory group for the purpose of

providing the Director of the Bureau of Planning formal comments on special administrative permit (SAP) applications within the district.

• The SPI-1 Downtown DRC is proposed to consist of eight

members representing Downtown property owners, neighborhood associations and NPU-M