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

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Future Character Districts Rural. This designation is for areas with large acreages (scattered homesteads and pasture land) and very large lot developments. It may also include clustered residential development that is offset by a high percentage of open space on the overall tract. Rural character is usually found in areas on the fringe of the City where infrastructure (i.e., curb and gutter, sewer, etc.) may be less intensive than other areas of the City. Rural character typically exhibits: • Wide open landscapes, with no sense of enclosure, and the views to the horizon are unbroken by buildings. • Structures are in the background — or invisible entirely as they blend into the landscape. • Very high open space ratios and very low building coverage. • Greater building separation providing privacy and detachment from neighboring dwellings. • Much greater reliance on natural drainage systems. • A more pleasant environment for walking and biking, especially for off- street trail systems. Suburban Residential. This designation is for areas that include detached residential dwellings; planned developments (to provide other housing types, e.g., attached residential, with increased open space), etc. Suburban Residential character typically exhibits: • A high degree of open space maintained on the site. • Larger lot sizes to allow for larger front yards and building setbacks. • Greater side separation between homes. • Less noticeable accommodation of the automobile (especially where driveways are on the side of homes rather than occupying a portion of the front yard space, and where garages are situated to the side or rear of the main dwelling). • In some case, Suburban Residential can accommodate smaller lot sizes in exchange for greater open space, with the additional open space devoted to maintaining the Suburban character and buffering adjacent properties. Auto Urban Residential. This designation also includes detached residential dwellings; attached housing types (subject to compatibility and open space standards, e.g., duplexes, townhomes, patio homes); planned developments (with a potential mix of housing types and varying densities, subject to compatibility and open space standards), etc. Auto Urban Character typically exhibits: • Less openness and separation between dwellings compared to Suburban areas. • Auto -oriented character (e.g., driveways and front -loading garages dominate the front yard and facades of homes).