Town Center Mixed-Use Development: Key Zoning Code Issues and Options
Presented By: Christopher [email protected]
September 2015Alcoa, Tennessee
US EPA/Smart Growth America Technical Assistance for Sustainable Communities Building Blocks
PlanET Town CenterMixed Use Development
Encourage development of dynamic town centers in small cities
Goals:– Grow more efficiently– Create more walking and
bicycling opportunities– Redevelop vacant and
underutilized land– Embrace new housing types
Mixed Use Town Center Development Across The Nation
Mixed Use Development In The Knoxville Region
Alcoa West Plant Site Development Preliminary Plans
Current Mixed Use Zoning Regulations in Alcoa
E-3 Mixed Use District: – Mixed use buildings
allowed by right– Reduced setbacks– Ped-friendly facades
required– Parking to side/rear
Other zoning code provisions suburban-oriented (parking, landscaping, buffering)
KEY MIXED USE ZONING CODE ISSUES
REVAMP ZONE DISTRICTS
MIXING OF USES
HIGH-ACTIVITYSTREET-
LEVEL USESACCESSORY
USESTEMPORARY
USESINTENSITY/
DIMENSIONAL STANDARDS
DEVELOPMENTSTANDARDS
DESIGNSTANDARDS
COMPATIBILITY
KEY MIXED USE ZONING CODE ISSUES: TOWN CENTER ZONING
Amend E-3 zone district
Adopt new town center zone district
PUD/Negotiated development
KEY MIXED USE ZONING CODE ISSUES: MIX OF USES
Allow variety of uses by right
Encourage high-activity non-residential uses at street level.
Discourage auto-oriented uses in town center core
KEY ISSUES: INTENSITY AND DIMENSIONAL STANDARDS
Allow increased residential density
Permit buildings up to four-to-six stories in core
Reduce front and side yard setbacks
KEY ISSUES: DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN STANDARDS
Access and circulation
Off-street parking/parking structures
Building design standards
KEY ISSUES: NEIGHBORHOOD COMPATIBILITY
Site least intense uses near existing residential
Use transitional design standards to reduce visual impacts
Control outdoor activities and uses near existing neighborhoods
