The previous low-rise housing zone was so prescriptive that all development in these zones had a cookie-cutter appearance that
many people grew to hate. Developers, when challenged on aesthetic shortcomings, respond that the City’s code makes them do it that way. So the revised zoning code is intended to provide more options to developers, and to correct some of the worst aspects of the most recent development cycle’s townhomes. It is not, however, a libertarian light-regulation free-for-all. Instead of giving detailed prescriptive requirements for two types of development, now they give sets of rules for five types of development (the text is 251 pages!).There are a few changes that give significantly more flexibility to development:
– A new type of development called a “rowhouse” is allowed to have zero property line setbacks.
– “Private open space” requirements (i.e. fenced backyards for each unit) have been relaxed to consider a variety of amenities.
– Within most urban village zoning areas parking minimums are eliminated.
– Density limitations (1 unit/1200 sq. ft.) change to floor-area-ratio (FAR) limitations.
The new rules are a step in the right direction for new urbanism (especially rules requiring direct pedestrian access to each unit from sidewalk), but the “free-market” impact is soley a matter a chance.
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