SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Approve amendments to the Clearwater Community Development Code amending the Downtown (D) District and establishing new development standards and a regulating plan for properties located within the Downtown Planning area in a new Appendix C, updating standards for bicycle parking, and making other amendments associated with the new Downtown District and Development Standards; and pass Ordinance 9149-18 on first reading. (TA2018-03001)
Body
SUMMARY:
Proposed Ordinance 9149-18 repeals and replaces the existing Downtown zoning district with several provisions including a new purpose and intent and updated references to the consistent Countywide Plan Map Category. It also proposes to limit residential density on properties within the Coastal Storm Area (CSA), consistent with the City’s Comprehensive Plan.
The ordinance establishes the new Downtown District and Development Standards as Appendix C of the Community Development Code, which contains the regulatory framework for the Downtown District including all use provisions and development and design standards. The ordinance also addresses various sections that need amendment as a result of the new Appendix, as well as those relating to long-term bicycle parking standards.
Downtown District and Development Standards:
Appendix C is organized into nine Divisions, as outlined below:
• Division 1. General Provisions:
o Includes District intent and purpose, general organizational information, and high-level explanation of the Divisions that comprise the development standards
o Establishes certain exemptions from the development standards
• Division 2. Regulating Plan:
o Establishes two regulating plans for Downtown - Character District Regulating Plan and Street Types and Key Corners Regulating Plan - and generally describes each
o Establishes view corridors
• Division 3. Character District Standards:
o Regulates development potential (i.e., intensity and density); maximum building heights and required height transitions; permitted uses and off-street parking; and bicycle parking requirements
o Limits residential density for portions of properties located in the Coastal Storm Area
o Introduces height transitions
o Requires long-term bike parking for a limited number of uses
• Division 4. Frontage Standards:
o Establishes seven frontages and identifies where these frontages are permitted according to Street Type (as shown on the regulating plan)
o Regulates building location, location of parking, ground floor facade design, and front landscape and pedestrian improvements along street frontages
o Establishes key corner requirements
• Division 5. Site Design Standards:
o Establishes general site design standards addressing: development patterns and blocks; access and circulation; parking and service areas (surface parking, structured parking, and attached and detached garages for residential); landscaping and fencing; stormwater management; waterfront development; and drive-through facilities
• Division 6. Building Design Standards:
o Establishes general building design standards addressing: façade treatment and design; awnings, canopies and balconies; roofs and mechanical equipment
o Introduces terms for developers to use when describing attached dwelling types (duplex, townhome, fourplex, etc.)
• Division 7. Signs [Reserved]: Reserves a location for future sign standards specific to the Downtown District.
• Division 8. Flexibility:
o Establishes a process by which an applicant may request flexibility
o Outlines the development standards for which flexibility may be requested
• Division 9. Administration:
o Sets forth provisions for the various approvals that are applicable within the Downtown District
The ordinance also proposes to amend Article 3, Division 5, to recognize that all development and design standards for the Downtown District will be located in the new Appendix C and proposes to delete language for outdoor cafes within the Downtown Planning area which were zoned Commercial as this land has not been rezoned to Downtown.
Bicycle Parking
The proposed amendment creates new long-term parking standards and incorporates new bicycle parking diagrams into the existing standards.
Nonconformity Provisions
The proposed amendment removes language that stipulated that reconstruction meet requirements of the Clearwater Downtown Redevelopment Plan and that the design of a project complied with the Downtown Design Guidelines. The change is needed because development standards are now included in the proposed Downtown District and Development Standards and not the Downtown Plan.
The Planning and Development Department has determined that the proposed text amendment to the Community Development Code is consistent with and furthers the goals, objectives and policies of the Comprehensive Plan and the Community Development Code as outlined in the staff report.
The Community Development Board will review the proposed text amendment at its July 17, 2018 public hearing and staff will report the Board’s recommendation to Council.
APPROPRIATION CODE AND AMOUNT: N/A
USE OF RESERVE FUNDS: N/A