Title
Ordinance Amending Section 30-8-1 (Table 8-1), and Subsection 2 of Section 30-7-4.3 of the Land Development Ordinance (LDO) Permitting "Pawnshops" as a Use in the Neighborhood Support (NS) Zoning District and Clarify Provisions for Fenestration (Doors and Windows) for New Construction.
Body
Department: Planning
Council District: All
Public Hearing: Yes
Advertising Date/By: September 5th and 12th
Contact 1 and Phone: Mike Kirkman at 373-4649
Contact 2 and Phone: Sue Schwartz at 373-2149
PURPOSE:
To amend the Land Development Ordinance (LDO) to add the use of "Pawnshops" to the Neighborhood Support (NS) zoning district and to clarify requirements for fenestration on the facades of new buildings. The City Council is required to hold a public hearing on this amendment before considering its approval.
BACKGROUND:
In January 2014 City Council adopted three new zoning districts (Auto Oriented - AO, Neighborhood Support - NS, and University Mixed Use - UMU) as part of continued implementation of the adopted High Point Road/West Lee Street Corridor Plan. These districts, and their associated standards, were approved to provide greater site development flexibility and encourage mixed use development in designated reinvestment corridors.
Staff has since determined that the use of pawnshops was inadvertently excluded as a permitted use in the Neighborhood Support (NS) district, as this use is allowed in both the Auto Oriented (AO) and University Mixed Use (UMU) zoning districts.
Additionally, staff determined that clarity was also needed for the minimum fenestration (doors and windows) standards for buildings located within five feet of the public rights-of-way. As currently adopted the standard could be read to be applicable to all sides of the building. The proposed language will ensure that minimum fenestration is only required for those parts of the building that directly face a public right-of-way or containing the principal building entrance.
Planning staff reviewed initial revisions with the Central Gateway Corridor Partnership to ensure the changes are in line with the intent of the Partnership in creating these districts and standards and the Partnership supports the changes. Following Planning Board's recommendation, staff reviewed the additional change with the Partnership and they supported the additional change.
BUDGET IMPACT:
There will be no impact on the current or future budgets.
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED:
The Planning Board recommended this amendment, with the condition that the provision requiring large windows to be located at street level and smaller windows at upper stories be deleted from the Ordinance, at its July meeting on a vote of 7-1. Staff recommends that City Council receive citizen comments and consider adoption of the proposed text amendment.