Final Draft 5

The September 16 CPNO Meeting was good. There was discussion on the latest Draft of the proposed Candler Park Historic District, questions and Amendments. (FINAL DRAFT AND MAP LINKED BELOW!)

One amendment proposed, to strike a height regulation on other buildings (not houses) in the district passed. This was a relatively minor change, but means that the height of those buildings will be defined by underlying Zoning regs for those properties.

>>> Another amendment to strike the regulation allowing up to 2 Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) per lot did not pass so it remains in the Historic District proposal.

Does this mean your neighbor is going to suddenly have 2 ADUs in their back yard?
Well, we don’t know your neighbor but keep in mind that:

1. While this is an increase of 1 unit per lot, all accessory dwellings, whether Apartments or Detached “tiny houses” will still be subject to a lot’s total FAR and Lot Coverage, AND can only be 30% of the size of the primary house. 
2. ADUs DO NOT equal Airbnbs. Airbnbs are regulated by the City and if there is a problem the City should be contacted. Plenty of people use them as guest suites, multigenerational living, or to earn extra income and provide affordable intown housing for perfectly responsible grad students, single parents, etc.
3. We fully expect Zoning 2.0 will define ADUs as apartments within houses, attached to houses OR detached as we think of them now. This is exactly the kind of historic housing we already have in Candler Park and historically have had more of!
4. Finally, having this regulation in the HD place makes a small density increase possible AND protection of historic buildings to occur simultaneously rather than one without the other.

​

The full run-down:

Final Draft 5

Draft 5 outline

Proposed Map

GOALS OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICT REGS:

• to prevent the further demolition of historic buildings.
• to not restrict the ability of homeowners to expand their homes as needed.
• to preserve the overall historic identity of CP based on the the time when most of the neighborhood was developed: 1855 to 1945.
• to allow density increases that maintain the historic character of the district.
• to preserve flexibility in the design of new housing.

General Regulations: Certificates ofAppropriateness. (COA)

• No COA required for Ordinary repairs/maintenance, if no permit required, or for demolition of a non-contributing structure. Regs specify that solar panels, materials, accessibility and window replacement are allowed and do not require a COA. Anything not mentioned below also does not require a COA
• If you are applying for an exterior building permit, staff will confirm within a day that No COA is needed which prevents things from sneaking by).
• Staff review (14 days max) required for: Alterations or additions that affect the front of buildings, and ADU structures (Type II COA)
  
• UDC commission review (1-2 months) for: New principal structures and Variance requests only (Type III COA)
• AUDC commission review (1-2 months) for: Demolition of Contributing buildings (Type IV COA)

Development Standards. These are Zoning type Regs that apply to every property

• Front yard setbacks - shall be no smaller than the smallest and no larger than the largest front yard setback on the block face. (aka the Compatibility Rule)
• Side yard setbacks –  may either match existing building OR be acumulative of 14 feet with a min of 4 feet on either side (flexible)
• Rear yard setbacks – 7 feet
• Accessory structure rear and side setbacks – 4 feet
• 50% lot coverage
• Height – compatibility rule or 35 feet whichever is greater – use Historic District height measurement standard –  which states that height of structures is measured on the front facade from the average point of grade to the highest point of the roof.

Design Standards - ONLY apply to the FRONT of Historic-Contributing buildings:

• Alterations and additions to all structures are allowed 
• Alterations and additions that affect the front of Contributing Structures which must be consistent with the design of the existing façade.
  

NO Design Review:

• Additions to the rear of Contributing structures may be in any design
• Non-Contributing buildings are not subject to any design regs.
• New construction may be in any design.​