Drastic House Size Restrictions in NCM, NCL zoning districts - Ordinance 003, 2011

Background about Ordinance NO. 002, 2011 and NO. 003, 2011 - Adopted by Fort Collins' city council on January 4, 2011 - 1st reading

Ordinance NO 003, 2011 - Full Text:

1. Lowers the FAR limits in the NCL and NCM zones for single family detached homes to .27. 
2. Basements and detached garages would not count toward the FAR limit calculation.
3. Land Use Code Revisions
1. Address the "volume loophole" by counting upper building space as a second floor, regardless of whether the floor is built, where the volume exceeds the typical volume associated with a one-story house.
2. Change the point of measurement for side wall height to be at the property line rather than at the base of the side wall at finished grade.
4. LPC (Landmark Preservation Commission) pre-approval required when zoning variance is requested
1. In order to help ensure the any variance of the new standards adopted by Ordinance NO 003, 2001, does not result in new construction or additions that incompatible with existing structures in the City's residential neighborhoods, the Ordinance also amends Section 2.10.2(H) of the Land Use Code, pertaining to variances, to require that any application for a variance of these new standards be accompanied by a written recommendation from a committee of the Landmark Preservation Commission, as authorized under Section 2-278(b)(5) of the City Code. 

Background:

1. January, 2010 - Design Standards Study commissioned by the City Council to examine concerns and issues about recent scrape-offs and pop-ups. Extensive material is available about this study, input and conclusions.
2. December 9, 2010 - Planning and Zoning Board Hearing - unanimously rejecting the then proposed House size changes. (Average+ Approach was examined in details, Changes to FAR and LPC control were not ever brought up and discussed!)
3. January 4, 2011 - New Text using FAR and LPC control over zoning variances were created in less than 3 weeks. City Council  approved the NEW text of the Ordinance at 1st reading.

Next Steps/Upcoming Meetings

• January 10 – Citizen Advisory Committee Meeting
• January 20 – Planning and Zoning Board Hearing
• February 1 – City Council Meeting (Second Reading) 

Please Reference City of Fort Collins Material:

East West Side Study

Summary of Public Comments