In November of 2012, a neighborhood meeting was held in which residents were asked to give their opinions on several concerns within residential Old Town. Of those polled, 79% lived within the Eastside or Westside neighborhoods.
When asked, "How beneficial do you think expanding the notification of variances would be in addressing concerns within the neighborhoods?" 78% of respondents felt it would be beneficial.
Ordinance 033 expands the notification circle when there has been a call for a variance on a new building project in the neighborhoods.
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| New building that fits in well with its neighbors |
When asked, "How beneficial do you think pattern books or guidelines for building styles would be in addressing concerns within the neighborhoods?" 69% of respondents felt it would be beneficial. And when asked, "How beneficial do you think a menu of front facade options would be in addressing perceived mass and scale issues?" 58% of respondents felt it would be beneficial.
Ordinance 033 gives a menu of design options for builders to choose from that help new buildings stylistically fit in better with surrounding older houses.
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| New building that doesn't fit in as well with its neighbors |
When asked, "How beneficial do you think adjusting the measurement method for building height at the side yard setback would be for addressing concerns within the neighborhoods?" 72% of respondents felt it would be beneficial. And when asked, "How beneficial do you think addressing solar concerns would be in promoting compatible building massing?" 70% of respondents felt it would be beneficial.
Ordinance 033 changes the starting point for measuring sidewall height of a new building so that whether ground was raised up several feet before the house was built or the house was built at the original grade, all house heights will be measured from the original grade. The ordinance also changes the house height and set backs for houses on north-south streets that could affect a neighbor's solar access.
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| Eclectic grouping of houses that maintain similar size and scale |
When asked, "How beneficial do you think adjusting the measurement method for Floor Area Ratio (FAR) would be in addressing concerns within the neighborhoods?" 58% of respondents felt it would be beneficial.
Ordinance 033 leaves FAR measurements the same for lot sizes under 5000 square feet in the low density zone and for lot sizes under 4000 square feet in the medium density zone. Above those points, it reduces the percentage of building square footage on lots from the 50% in the medium density zone to 45% (on a 5000 square foot lot), then 43% (on a 7000 square foot lot), gradually down to 37% by the time the house size has reached 5500 square feet (on a 15,000 square foot lot). And in the low density zone it reduces the percentage of building square footage on lots above 5000 square feet from 40% to 38% on a 7000 square foot lot, to 34% on a 9000 square foot lot, gradually down to 32% on a 15000 square foot lot, at which point the house could have a total square footage of 4750 square feet.
Source:
Turning Results by Question, Session Name: eastsidewestside Created: 11/6/2012 by
Winter & Company.
