The Open House days welcome the public to learn and give feedback about the first draft of
Form-Based Code. The FBC is a new zoning tool for neighborhoods in the downtown, M.L. King, Southside and Northshore areas. This new type of zoning is designed to promote vibrant, quality, mixed use development that supports neighborhood character and livability, said officials.
The FBC draft will be available for public review on Tuesday on the FBC website, www.cha-fbc.com. At the Open House, the public can review proposed FBC zone maps, the process, zone comparisons, the draft FBC document, and feedback from other public forums. City of Chattanooga and Regional Planning Agency staff will be available to answer questions and explain the material. Staff are also available to present the draft code at community and civic organization meetings.
The Open House events will be hosted by the RPA and held at the Development Resource Center, 1250 Market St., on Thursday, Feb. 23 and March 3. The Open House days are from 8:30 .m.-5:30 p.m., with a Brown-Bag Lunch Presentation at noon each day. To allow more time for review, the March 3 Open House will be extended until 7:30 p.m. The schedule is also posted online at cha-fbc.com and below. The Brown-Bag Lunch Presentations will review a variety of topics from building height to parking and signage. The Development Resource Center is fully accessible, and parking is available in their lot to the rear of the building on King Street.
OPEN HOUSE EVENTS AND BROWN-BAG LUNCH PRESENTATIONS SCHEDULE
? Thursday, Feb. 18, from 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Brown-Bag Lunch Presentation: 12 p.m.
Topic: FBC Process and Public Realm Standards
? Tuesday, Feb. 23, from 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Brown-Bag Lunch Presentation: 12 p.m.
Topic: Building Height and Land Use
? Thursday, March 3, from 8:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
Brown-Bag Lunch Presentation: 12 p.m.
Topic: Parking, Access, Signage and Landscaping
Following the public open house meetings, there will be an additional public input meeting hosted by the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission (Planning
Commission) in mid-late March. The RPA staff will take the public feedback received during these meetings to revise the draft prior to initiating the adoption process (this Spring). Adoption process will start with a formal presentation to Planning Commission, which will then make a recommendation to City Council. City Council will take final action on adoption of the ordinance. Once approved by the City Council, this new code will replace the current zoning. See the project website www.cha-fbc.com for the specific properties that will be affected by this new zoning.
DOWNTOWN CHATTANOOGA FORM-BASED CODE PROJECT OVERVIEW
In recent years, many Chattanooga citizens have participated in public meetings to create a shared vision for Downtown area development that is urban, high quality and walkable. The zoning that governs what can be built is out-of-date and not effective in promoting development that supports this vision. There are many instances where development has to go through time-consuming and costly variances (exceptions) to the current code to build the very types of development the community desires.
In addition, the Mayor’s Chattanooga Forward initiative recommends replacing old zoning code with a new, better code that will promote a more vibrant downtown. To that end, the mayor’s office has asked the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Agency to spearhead an initiative to develop this new zoning tool, called Form-Based Code, for the City Center, M.L. King, Southside, North Shore, and Riverfront areas.
The project launched in January 2015 with over 200 people attending a public kick-off meeting at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center. Next, there was a week long public Charrette,followed by multiple map workshops, civic group presentations, committee meetings, four different direct mailings to property owners, informative emails, multiple neighborhood presentations and public engagement meetings.
For more info visit the website, www.cha-fbc.com, Facebook Page, www.facebook.com/chattanoogaformbasedcode/ and Twitter Handle, @CHA_FBC.