Developers outline concerns about design standards
Last updated Thursday, January 11, 2007 10:15 PM CST in News
By Dug Begley
The Morning News
Related Photos
FAYETTEVILLE -- Urban design standards for Fayetteville could change what kind of projects residents will see going up around them, developers told city planning officials at a Thursday meeting. Whether the standards will be good for developers, however, remains up for debate.
One of the most problematic issues, some developers said, is the difficulties the standards would raise for some smaller developments.
"Why are duplexes in this at all?" architect Jim Ramsey wondered.
Because garages cannot be in front of a duplex's facade, Ramsey said the cost of building duplexes will increase, or lots will have to be widened.
The proposed urban design standards are part of the City Plan 2025, the planning document the city hopes will coordinate future growth in the city. The standards will guide how developers will construct new projects, setting rules for pushing buildings close to city streets and encouraging pedestrian-friendly features. Some of the standards also require developers to shield trash bins, receptacle and air conditioning units.
Developers identified changes they would make to the proposed urban design standards, which would cover all multifamily developments in the city.
The purpose of the meeting was to gauge developers' responses and make appropriate changes, explained Karen Minkel, senior long-range planner with the city. She said city staff believe the changes are reasonable.
"Most of the projects in Fayetteville comply with the majority of regulations you find in this ordinance," she told developers.
Tim Conklin, Fayetteville's planning and development director, said planners consulted numerous national studies and examined urban design rules in similar cities. That research led to the proposed ordinance. The Planning Commission and City Council will have to weigh in on the standards before they can take effect.
At a Glance
Proposed Changes To Ordinance
Some of the changes developers suggested to Fayetteville's proposed urban design standards ordinance:
* Allow developers to build residences that front private streets. The current regulations require developments to locate close to public streets.
* Reduce the amount of setback from a road required to place balconies on the front of apartments and condos.
* Reduce the distance a house must be built away from the street to 10 feet from 25 feet.
* Encourage courtyards in residential developments.
* Allow for small, three-and-four-unit developments to use trash bins, instead of Dumpsters, for trash.
Source: Staff Report
Reader Comments (1 comment(s))
The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsibility of their authors. The Morning News does not review comments before their publication, nor do we guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by our comment policy. If you see a comment that violates our policy, please notify the web editor.
Not already registered?
SStone wrote on Jan 14, 2007 12:58 PM: