2008-77 AMENDING ZONING ORDINANCE - XXIV. OFF-STREET PARKING AND LOADING REQUIREMENTS

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ECONOMIC AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT MEMORANDUM Memo No. 08-135 October 15, 2008 TO: Honorable Mayor Michael T. Carrigan and City Council FROM: John A. Smith, Interim City Manager Greg G Crowe, Assistant City Man , Suzan M. Stickle, Senior Planner� ', SUBJECT: Amendments to Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance#3512) ' SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the amendments to the City of Decatur Zoning Ordinance (Ordinance #3512) as proposed. The City Plan Commission voted 7-1 to recommend approval of this petition as amended at the October 2, 2008 hearing; the minutes of the meeting are attached. When the Zoning Ordinance was amended in May of 2002, it required all one and two family ' residences to pave the driveways with an improved surface. This requirement only applies to new housing and new driveways established after the effective date of the ordinance. This requirement is in place to reduce gound pollution from vehicle oil and other contaminants, aesthetics and dust control within the City limits. This requirement did not take into consideration any circumstances ' I where the ro ert was lar e and ma require a long driveway to access the back of the property. i P P Y g Y he need to reevaluate the current rules and re ulations, Staff is of the opinion in Staff recognized t g certain circumstances, the intent of paving the entire driveway would not be conflicted by allowing a reduced amount of paving for those driveways that extend beyond 100 f�et of the front property line and are 100 feet from any property line of a residential use or residential district. The proposed amendment will allow the Director of Economic and Urban Development to grant relief to allow for a reduced amount of paving and an alternative surface subj ect to the previously described requirements. BACKGROUND: The current City of Decatur Zoning Ordinance was adopted in May of 2002. Since the time of adoption, Staff has discovered certain necessary changes, discrepancies and omissions as the new ordinance has been implemented, specifically in Section XXIV. Off-Street Parking and Loading Requirements. The following changes to the ordinance are proposed. Amend SECTION XXIV.D.7.a. (Off-Street Parking and Loading Require�nents- Paving for One and Two Family Districts)by adding: "ii. A one or two family residential use may request alternative c mpliance for paved driveway(s)that extend past 100 feet from the front property line, which is considered a 100 foot front yard setback for paving purposes. Any portion of he driveway(s) that would be located within 100 feet of any property and/or lot line o�any residential use or zone must be on an improved surface. All parking and vehicle storage areas shall be on an improved surface. The Director of Economic and Urban Development may approve a surface other than concrete or asphalt for those portions of the driveway which are not located in the 100 foot setback, are not located within 100 feet of any property and/or lot line of any residential use or.zone and are not parking or vehicle storage areas."