Item 8: Ordinance Establishing Chambers Special Area Zone

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Allowance for condominiums and row houses The proposed standards are based on the physical characteristics of the "East Traditional Neighborhood (ETN)" subarea, now referred to in the draft Chambers Special Area Zone, as the S~CIR~2 subarea. The subarea character is described on pages 2-5 through 2-10 of the Chambers Reconsidered Final Report: Promoting Compatible Development in a Mature Neighborhood. The character description is attached below. The boundaries of the ETN area were carefully drawn to include parcels with homes that exhibit a similar character and to exclude, as much as possible, parcels with homes that did not fit the dominant character. Lots with apartments and rowhouses were not included in the subarea boundary. In general, as noted in the character description, "dwellings are predominantly single-family structures with.. .one dwelling per lot." The intention of these standards is to preserve that pattern. Accordingly, design standards were not developed for rowhouses because that housing type represents a very different form than the single-family detached fonn dominant in the S-C/R-2 subarea. It is not possible to provide language for an amendment that would pern1it rmvnhouses in this area without first developing standards that would insure their compatibility with existing development in the area. Among the proposed standards that would likely need to be revised to allow viable rowhouse development are the following: . Density Standards . Front Yard Setbacks . Interior Yard Setbacks . Building Height . Garage and Accessory Building Standards . Driveway Standards . Lot Standards . Vehicle Use Area Standards that address the specific requirements of rowhouse buildings were not developed as part of this project. Condominium projects, on the other hand, are not prohibited by the proposed standards. Lots that are large enough to accommodate two or three units could be developed as a condominium project.