<br /> <br /> <br />RRSC Plan & Code Changes Page 2 of 4 <br />Bishow Testimony November 28, 2023 <br />3. If the Commission decides to recommend approval of the draft code amendments <br />amend as follows: <br /> <br />Prohibited Uses <br />Carve out River Avenue and include a map and list of tax lots in the adopting ordinance <br />that are not subject to the list of prohibited uses. <br /> <br />Building Height <br />Establish a maximum building height of at least 65 feet. <br /> <br />Do not support having different maximum building heights based on ground level <br />commercial use. To be financially viable, buildings need to respond to changing market <br />conditions. A builder might seek financing to construct a mixed use building but be <br />unable to attract commercial tenants on the ground floor. The ground floor may end up <br />being used for housing or services exclusively for residents, such as recreational <br />amenities, mail service, or bike parking. The code should allow a maximum building <br />height regardless of use. <br /> <br />Minimum Front Yard Setbacks - EC 9.2170(4)(b)2c <br />Carve out River Avenue since this standard will not be applicable . Subsection 2c will <br />only apply to properties that have frontage on River Road . <br /> <br />Maximum Front Yard Setbacks- E 9.2170(4)(c) <br />Carve out River Avenue from subsections 3 and 6. <br /> <br />Subsection 3 will require a minimum of 80% of all street facing facades to be within a <br />maximum 15-foot setback or orientation to an internal accessway, private drive, or <br />shopping street constructed according to street type standards. This proposed change <br />will create a burden on existing businesses, hinder financing, and limit redevelopment <br />options. In addition, the draft code does not provide an exception for double frontage lots <br />such as those facing River Avenue and Randy Pape Beltline. <br />Subsection 6 will not be applicable to properties on River Avenue since it will only apply <br />to properties with frontage on River Road. <br /> <br />RRSC Specific Standards – EC 9.2170(13) <br />Carve our River Avenue as there are no properties zoned C -2 abutting R-1 properties. <br />Moreover, standards related to building walls, window coverage, and weather protection <br />will cause adverse impacts to existing businesses, decrease employment growth, and <br />are not needed to achieve neighborhood goals. <br /> <br />Currently, commercial standards for exterior walls and windows only apply to new <br />commercial buildings with 25,000 square feet or more of floor area. The RRSC specific <br />42