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

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Auto Urban Commercial. Development types include a wide range of commercial retail and service uses (at varying scales and intensities depending on the site); office (both large and/or multi -story buildings and small-scale office uses depending on the site); and public/institutional areas. Auto -Urban character areas typically exhibit: • A largely horizontal development pattern. • A very open environment (but to accommodate extensive surface parking versus the more prominent green spaces found in Suburban areas) • Significant area devoted to vehicular access drives, circulation routes, surface parking, and loading/delivery areas (making pavement the most prominent visual feature versus green or open areas). Auto -oriented character may be enhanced with better building and site design. Urban Downtown. This character area is different from an Auto -Urban commercial area in that the buildings are brought to the street and there is no or very limited on -site parking. Buildings within this district occupy a large percentage of the site, and front and side yard setbacks must be built to the property line in order to maintain the characteristics of a traditional downtown. Downtown character areas typically exhibit: • Most intensive development character in City. • Streets framed by buildings with zero/minimal front setbacks. • Greatest site coverage. • Minimum two-story structures encouraged. • Reliance on on -street parking, centralized public parking, and where feasible, structured parking. • Public/institutional uses designed of an Urban character. Business Park. This designation is typically Suburban in character and primarily is for office, medical, and technology/research uses, but can also include light industrial (including warehousing/distribution) when well screened and in buildings with enhanced architectural design. Business Parks are a good way to attract new companies to the area and could be an attractive alternative the existing facilities available today. Business Park character areas are typically grouped in campus style settings and typically exhibit: • Reduced site coverage and larger areas of common open space. • A minimum open space ratio of 20%-30%, which still allows for a sizable cumulative building footprint since most such developments involve large sites. • Extensive landscaping of business park perimeter, and special streetscaping and design treatments at entries, key intersections, and internal focal points. • Development outcomes that exceed City ordinances and development standards (because they are often controlled by private covenants and restrictions)