ACTION ITEM
SPONSOR: Delarian Wiggins, Chairperson
SUBJECT:
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AMENDMENT TO CRA URBAN DESIGN OVERLAY DISTRICT STANDARDS
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RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
That the Community Redevelopment Agency refer revisions to the CRA Urban Design Overlay District Standards as described in Proposed Ordinance No. 45-21 to the City of Pensacola Planning Board.
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SUMMARY:
The Urban Design Overlay was adopted by the City Council in 2019 to provide development standards for the CRA neighborhoods not covered by a special design review board. The intent of these design standards was to preserve and maintain the traditional walkable, urban pattern and character of Pensacola’s community redevelopment area neighborhoods.
Implementation of the overlay has highlighted several areas in which the standards should be tweaked. Staff has drafted an initial amendment to the overlay. A subsequent amendment is anticipated after the CRA has filled the Urban Design Specialist position.
The initial amendment includes the following:
• Creation of a modification/variance process through abbreviated review.
• Reduction of glass requirements (windows and doors) for single unit commercial buildings.
• Reduction in glass requirements for commercial, multi-family and other non-residential buildings, as well as, allowing for additional building setback, fenestration and a street screen or substantial buffering as a replacement where providing glass is not possible.
• Allowance for tinted windows to conceal areas where the use of clear glass would be impractical or undesirable.
• Addition of fenestration requirement, otherwise described as a “blank wall length” requirement for commercial and multi-family buildings
• Reduction in the requirement for building street-facing frontage occupation for commercial and multi-family buildings.
• Increase of the maximum setback for commercial development.
• Requirement for commercial and multi-family buildings with a setback of more than 5 feet to provide landscaping or pedestrian space.
• Creation of buffering requirements for third and fourth street-facing building sides when a commercial building is located adjacent to a single family residential area. Establishment of fencing and landscape requirements for buffer.
• Requirement for dumpsters to be located interior to the site.
• Increased flexibility for stormwater ponds on street-facing sides when located interior to the lot and buffered with a site improvement, such as parking, or limited in length with the addition of landscaping requirements for facilities that are visible from the street.
• Requirement for stormwater on residential properties to be controlled by gutter or swale systems.
• Reduction in glass requirements on a second street-facing side for single family and two-family residential buildings from 20% to 15%.
• Language clarifications and organization changes for readability.
It is anticipated that a subsequent amendment, will be brought forth following a comprehensive review of setbacks, parking and architectural features.
PRIOR ACTION:
September 18, 2018 - The Planning Board held a public hearing and recommended adoption of the CRA Urban Design Standards.
January 15, 2019 - The CRA recommended that City Council adopt the CRA Urban Design Standards.
May 16, 2019 - City Council held a public hearing and approved Ordinance No. 10-19, creating the CRA Urban Design Overlay District on first reading.
May 30, 2019 - City Council adopted Ordinance No. 10-19, creating the CRA Urban Design Overlay District on second reading.
FUNDING:
N/A
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
None.
LEGAL REVIEW ONLY BY CITY ATTORNEY: Yes
11/9/2021
STAFF CONTACT:
David Forte, Deputy City Administrator - Community Development
M. Helen Gibson, AICP, CRA Administrator
Victoria D’Angelo, Assistant CRA Administrator
ATTACHMENTS:
1) Proposed Ordinance No. 45-21
2) Proposed Amendment in Strikethrough and Underline
3) Overlay District Map
PRESENTATION: No end