Discussion of the 2017 Zoning Code Amendments - Transect Code

Planning Commission Recommendation - Approval

• Physically and architecturally break the facade of a continuous/singular Commercial Block building.
• Modify the Live/Work building type to remove the residency requirement.
• Update Table 10-50.110.030.A to reflect the allowed building types within all Transect zones, including alternate (N.2) zones and open (O) sub-zones.
• Remove Commercial Block from the T4N.1, T4N.1-O, and T4N.2 zones.
• Modify the building types lists found in Section 10-40 to conform with the building types table in 10-50.
• Update Table 10-50.120.020.C to reflect the allowed private frontage types within all Transect zones, including alternate (N.2) zones and open (O) sub-zones.
• Delete the private frontage type descriptions within Table 10-50.120.020.C and rely upon the descriptions within each specific private frontage type section.
• Modify the private frontage types lists found in Section 10-40 to conform with the private frontage types table in 10-50.

Planning Commission Recommendation - Denial

• Delete the Commercial Block building type and replace it with three new building types that convey small (Neighborhood), medium (Main Street), and large (Downtown) scale.
• Physically separate (setback) individual Commercial Block buildings on the same lot and on adjacent lots.
• Remove the building types lists from Section 10-40 and add a reference to the building types table in 10-50.
• Create the Downtown Shopfront private frontage type for the new Downtown building type.
• Remove the private frontage types lists from Section 10-40 and add a reference to the private frontage types table in 10-50.

Anticipated Schedule

• November 14, 2017 - City Council Work Session
• November 21, 2017 - Additional Council Discussion Possible
• November 28, 2017 - Additional Council Discussion Possible
• December 5, 2017 - City Council Public Hearing and 1st Reading of Ordinance
• December 19, 2017 - City Council Hearing, 2nd Reading of Ordinance, and Ordinance Adoption
• January 18, 2018 - Ordinance Effective Date

The Zoning Code was adopted by the City Council on November 1, 2011, to replace the former Land Development Code.  A key difference between the Zoning Code and the Land Development Code was the inclusion of a development option utilizing Transect zoning, which is only available to those properties within the established Downtown Regulating Plan area.  A map depicting the Downtown Regulating Plan area is attached for reference.  Since its adoption, approximately 10 projects have been developed/approved under Transect zoning.  Based on some recent development, the City Council, along with a citizen petition, have requested that the Transect zoning standards be analyzed and amendments considered that will more adequately integrate new development, especially Commercial Block buildings into existing neighborhood be considered.

Since the 2011 adoption of the Zoning Code, the following amendments have been reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission and adopted by the City Council:

1.  Division 10-20.50 (Amendments to the Zoning Code Text and the Zoning Map): adopted on November 5, 2013, Ord. No. 2013-21.  These amendments established a new process and procedure for zone changes.
2.  Section 10-50.100.080.E (Flagstaff Mall and Marketplace District): adopted on November 5, 2013, Ord. No. 2013-22.  These amendments allowed for the installation of a new monument sign for the Flagstaff Mall and Marketplace District.
3.  Division 10-50.100 (Sign Standards): adopted on November 18, 2014, Ord. No. 2014-27.  These amendments to the City's sign standards addressed concerns from the City Council and local residents with the complexity of the former sign standards, especially for building mounted signs, and for the proliferation of temporary signs within the City.
4.  Division 10-20.100 (Assurance of Performance for Construction): adopted on March 4, 2015, Ord. No. 2015-01.  These amendments updated the standards and procedures regarding assurances for construction.
5.  Section 10-40.30.050 (Industrial Uses) and Sections 10-80.20.060 (Definitions, “F.”) and 10-80.20.200 (Definitions, “T.”): adopted on May 5, 2015, Ord. No. 2015-03.  These amendments to the industrial zones, Table B, Allowed Uses, and in the definitions clarify that freight and trucking facilities are a permitted use in the RD (Research and Development Zone.
6.  Comprehensive suite of amendments adopted on February 16, 2016, Ord. No. 2016-07, 2016 comprising mostly minor clarifications and corrections, but also some significant amendments to Section 10-40.40.030 to allow single-family dwellings and duplexes by right in the CC Zone, Section 10-40.60.260 (Mixed Use) and 10-40.60.280 (Planned Residential Development), Section 10-50.80.080 (Parking Spaces, Parking Lot Design and Layout) and in Division 10-50.110 to add two new building types; apartment building and stacked triplex.
7.  Division 10-50.100 (Sign Standards): adopted on June 21, 2016, Ord. No. 2016-22.  These amendments reconciled the sign standards with the US Supreme Court’s decision in the Reed v. Town of Gilbert.
8. Series of amendments adopted on April 4, 2017, Ord. No. 2017-10, including amendments to: Section 10-50.80.080.C (ADA Parking), clarifying the depth of an ADA parking space; Sections 10-40.60.030, 10-80.20.010 (ADU's) created a definition for Attached and Detached ADU's, created standards for the attachment, and clarified the required amenities; Sections 10-40.30, and 10-40.40, 10-50.80 and 10-80.20.160 (Places of Worship), created a definition and land use classification for places of worship, and permit the use in all zones; and Section 10-90.40.030 (Rural Floodplain Map), revised the rural floodplain map back to the boundaries of the 1991 map.