06-21-12 Regular Meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission

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2) Consider recalibrating Reca!ibrate the density and open space ratios of each zoning district and revise the dimensional standards to reflect the intended character. For instance, the setbacks and lot widths and coverage should vary by character, with small setbacks and higher coverage for neighborhoods of an urban character and larger setbacks and lower coverage for suburban and rural neighborhoods. 3) Consider identifying Identify established neighborhoods with cohesive character and community identity and create neighborhood conservation districts to protect and promote the existing neighborhood feel. In addition, allow for reasonable improvements in these existing neighborhoods without cumbersome variance procedures. Include by - right standards for making improvements to buildings to ensure that they remain in character with the neighborhood and do not adversely impact the use and enjoyment of neighboring properties. 4) Consider transitioning Transitio the existing Planned Unit Development (PUD) regulations to a Planned Development (PD) option available in certain districts in order to mix different housing types. This by -right option allows the density and open space standards to be clearly defined to reflect the intended character. A housing palette should be utilized to clearly specify the minimum lot areas and dimensions, setbacks, building heights, and maximum building coverage for each dwelling unit type. These new PD provisions would include explicit density and open space standards together with provisions for permitted and limited uses, housing diversity, dimensional criteria, residential and nonresidential development standards, open space and recreation design, subdivision layout and design, street configurations, and bufferyards and transitions thereby allowing them as a by -right option rather than through a discretionary approval process. 5) Consider reviewing and revising Re.iev u^d revise. -the lists of permitted and conditional uses in each district. The current districts are cumulative meaning that - single family dwellings are permitted in both low and high density districts. The permitted uses in the commercial district are based on their use function rather than their scale or design character. By way of example, the neighborhood commercial district allows drugstores, eating places, and grocery stores with limitations of scale or other design parameters to ensure a character that is compatible with the adjacent neighborhood. 6) Consider adopting ^dopt a housing palette that includes dimensional standards for each of several housing types. The purpose of the palette is to ensure the character (size, spacing, scale) of each housing type in a neighborhood or mixed housing development, such as a