Karen Hundt outlines late changes to Form-Based Code
The City Council on Tuesday night voted unanimously to approve the new Form-Based Code that will replace traditional zoning for downtown, the Southside and the North Shore.
The council unanimously voted to approve a resolution dealing with the text of the lengthy document and a second resolution that deals with a map of the area covered by the new form of zoning and the designation for each parcel.
Garnet Chapin and William Smith asked for more time to refine the complex new code. Mr. Chapin said it would be best "to have the completed document so the public can see what it is getting in advance rather than after the fact." Mr. Smith said the code was continually changing right up to the vote. He said there was not an updated copy for the public to see, and he said the version on the city website was a week old.
Councilman Yusuf Hakeem said there would be requests for more changes if the council waited, and he said it was desirable for the council to "get off the dime." He said there will be time to make corrections in the coming weeks and months.
City Council members made a few late changes.
Council Chris Anderson said he wanted to make sure that six-story buildings could not be built along Cherry Street "as long as people are living there" and that Cherry would not have commercial zoning. There had been requests for six stories at the 100 block and 200 block of Cherry.
Councilman Jerry Mitchell placed a maximum height of 42 feet for 50 Frazier Ave. next to the Walnut Street Bridge.
Chairman Moses Freeman said residents in his MLK District wanted zoning similar to the single-family homes that predominate. In some parcels, he moved that they allow two-story buildings instead of three-story.
He said residents did not oppose the ability to erect three-story buildings on 10th Street at Central Avenue.
One amendment would nullify a section that would have allowed the codes director to be able to add five feet to the height of a building without bringing it before the new nine-member Form Base Code Committee.
Another change would allow developers more parking credits for installing bicycle parking. That was opposed by Mr. Chapin, who said, "You can get 10 bicycle spaces in a vehicle space," and by Franklin McCallie, who said, "Please let the bicycles stand on their own.
The code formerly gave developers credit for one vehicle space for each covered bicycle space provided. That was changed to credit for one vehicle space for each two bicycle spaces.
The new parking requirement is one space per unit for residential and for commercial is one space for every 1,000 square feet.
Certain parking credits may be earned if off-site parking is supplied. Officials said 75 percent of the required parking must be within 300 feet of the site.
There will be a Form-Based Code Committee to hear appeals. The three council members whose districts are affected will each be able to submit the names of three members to the mayor for appointment. The make-up is three designers, three from development and three citizens. One of the three must live in the district or have an office there.
The Planning Commission heard six Form-Based Code cases on Monday, and those will not go before the City Council until July.