2nd Draft of Regulations!

Thanks to everyone for their comments and questions about the 1st draft, we tried to get back to as many of you as possible with answers to questions and take all of your comments into account. There were a lot of questions around the proposed "period of significance" and we will go into that further in a separate post.

Summary provided below but you don't have to take our word for it:

Outline Draft 2

Full Draft 2

Full Draft 2 - Tracked Changes

Missed the Draft 2 Review Meeting?
​Watch the Zoom recording here:

draft 2 review meeting

Comment/Questions submission form is at the bottom of this post.
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Key takeaways:

Overall synopsis of the Proposed regulations:

• Yard setbacks can conform to the existing house or match another house on the block rather than being a set # of feet.
• Alterations/additions are allowed to both contributing (historic) and non-contributing (not historic) buildings.
• Alterations/additions may be in any style or design except the facades of contributing buildings, in which case the existing design should be retained (but only on that elevation).
• Solar panels will be allowed anywhere
• The proposal does not regulate materials or window replacement.
• The proposal enables gentle density increases through ADUs with some important changes to allow construction of ADUs will be more flexible and for ADUs to be larger and more numerous which will be helpful for adding density particularly on larger lots.
• ADU construction will still be governed by the overall lot coverage and floor area allowed by zoning.
• Changes in the number of primary dwellings on a lot can be increased in the future through the underlying zoning.
• Existing uses (ie the number of dwellings on a lot even if not technically legal by zoning) - CAN REMAIN under new owners and even if the building is changed. (this is already allowed by zoning)

Main points that have been revised for Draft 2 -

• Period of Significance changed to end with 1955 across entire district - this aligns with the National Register nomination.
• Defined "facade" and deleted other definitions which are covered in Chapter 20 (historic districts) of Atlanta's municode.
• Specified that no COAs will be required for solar panels, change of building materials, handicap accessibility features such as wheelchair ramps, or the replacement of windows. 
• Financial hardship exemption - this has been revised based on the City's recommendation that we use the MLK District's language. There are 2 factors for consideration that have been removed which are 1) the owner's age and 2) the length of time they have lived there. 
• Accessory Structures - change from unlimited size of ADUs to 50% of the main structure (current limit is 30% of main structure).
• Design Standard section: added clarity for what specifically could be "regulated" when making alterations/additions to contributing building facades.

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