2012-18 CREATING A LAKEFRONT OVERLAY DISTRICT

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Excerpts from Plan Commission Minutes of April 5,2012: Cal. No. 12-09 Petition of BILLY TYUS, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER, for amendments to the City of Decatur Zoning Ordinance. Cal. No. 12-10 Petition of DECATUR PARK DISTRICT to create a Lakefront Overlay District located at Nelson and Chandler Parks in the R-3 and R-2 Single Family Residence Districts. Mrs. Joselyn Stewart was sworn in by Mrs. Poland. Mr. Steve John entered the meeting at 3:07 p.m. Mrs. Stewart presented the recommendation of staff: The overlay district concept was incorporated into the Zoning Ordinance adopted in May 2002. Originally, Section XX, Special Districts, was reserved for future amendments which would be intended to provide for the special needs of and reserve a place for creation of overlay districts or other specially designated districts that have a more specific purpose or particular development goals than what more traditional zoning districts might allow. Overlay districts could include large institutions, educational campuses or other areas, along with their associated uses which typically are established nearby. The first amendment created the Institution Overlay District in October 2002. The first overlay district was granted to Decatur Memorial Hospital in November 2002. Subsequently, in August 2006, the Airport Overlay District was created for the Decatur Airport property. The third Overlay District, the West Main Street Overlay District, was created in October 2006. In June 2011 the Decatur City Council entered into an intergovernmental agreement with the Decatur Park District to partner on the Lakefront Development project. The agreement represents a commitment to work together in support of the multi-phased project to bring new cultural, educational and recreational amenities to the Nelson Park lakefront both as a means of attracting visitors to our community and as an outlet for local residents. Staff has prepared an amendment for inclusion in Section XX, as Paragraph F, establishing the LF-OL Lakefront Overlay District. This District would be applicable to the area generally defined as Chandler Park and Nelson Park as well as adjacent Lakefront boundaries. Adoption of the proposed amendment is intended to provide standards that encourage recreation and allow for the continued preservation and use of the parks and the lake while supporting special needs that facilitate the use of the parks and the lake as economic catalysts that draw visitors to the City of Decatur. The Overlay District shall link traditional park and lake activities with uses that generate revenues to offset the expense of non-revenue generating elements and support the long-term care and maintenance of the park and lake and overall growth and development of the Decatur community. The Overlay District shall be designed to protect and preserve the existing character of surrounding neighborhoods. The Lakefront Overlay District shall contain the following sections: a. Intent b. District Boundary