Title
An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 55 (Zoning), Section 5:10.20.A Downtown Character Overlay Zoning Districts Building Massing Standards (CPC Recommendation: Approval - 6 Yeas and 3 Nays) (Ordinance No. ORD-14-12)
Memorandum
Approval of these revised zoning amendments will establish maximum height and minimum side and rear setback requirements for D2 (Downtown Interface base zoning district) parcels in the Main Street character overlay district.
Council amended the proposed language at first reading on June 16, 2014, reducing the proposed maximum height limit from 100 feet to 60 feet. Action on second reading was postponed on July 21, 2014 and September 15, 2014 so that the Planning Commission's Ordinance Revisions Committee (ORC) could work with staff and the property owner of 425 South Main to identify potential revisions.
The ORC and Planning staff reviewed two different conceptual presentations of zoning scenarios offered by the property owner at meetings in September and October 2014. Based on the provided information, the ORC recommends allowing a tower up to 120 feet at the north end of the site and a 60-foot height limit for remaining, southern portion. In addition, the ORC recommends adding a 30 foot setback from residential district boundary anywhere on the same block. In the case of 425 S. Main, this requirement would result in a 30-foot total separation from the rear property line of the residential properties on Fourth Avenue, or, in other words, a 14 foot setback from the edge of the 16-foot wide public alley.
The proposed revisions are consistent with an option presented in the ENP Downtown Zoning Evaluation Report that called for a taller element at the key gateway corner of Main Street and William. The committee used this recommendation to develop the proposed compromise, which will allow the property owner of 425 S. Main the flexibility of building a taller building on the north end of the site, consistent with the est...
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