Item 7: Action: Ordinance on Infill Compatibility Standards Code Amendments

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accomplished the critical protection sought by the neighborhood representatives by maintaining low th building heights along and south of 19 Avenue, where the higher density zones interface with the R-1 zone. Excerpt from Draft Planning Commission Minutes – 10/26/09 Building Height Ms. Harding reviewed the proposed language presented in Alternates A and B on pages 51 and 53 of the AIS. She noted staff was most comfortable with Alternate B because it retained the most flexibility while accomplishing a more gradual transition. Staff did not feel there was enough information in the record to support Alternate C partly because the area north of Thirteenth Avenue had a transit oriented development (TOD) overlay. th Ms. Jerome expressed concern that she had not provided input on findings for limiting height north of 13 Avenue. The original proposals in MiCAP did not go into TOD areas. Ms. Harding noted the committee had offered a variety of opinions through testimony, but it did agree that the City should be reducing heights at least in the areas identified in A and B. After that, there was disagreement on the part of committee members on what the values should be. Alternate B was presented as a minority report that staff as well as the development and design representatives on the committee supported. She added that most SUNA representatives preferred not allowing up to 75 feet on a development site of 10,000 square feet or more. Smaller scale development was preferred in SUNA while there was more support for lot consolidation and larger development projects in WUN. In response to a question from Mr. Hledik, Ms. Harding said a three to five story step up from south to north was preferred by many SUNA neighbors, from Nineteenth north to Eighteenth Avenue. Mr. Lawless was not thrilled with Alternate C, noting the proposal went too far in capturing the northern zone of space and including additional height limitations. He could not support the proposal. Ms. Harding said the committee looked at the WUN because Steve Baker, a WUN resident sat on the committee. He asserted there were historic houses and resources in the area that needed compatible structure height adjacent to them. The issues around the Mill Race were primarily related to site development, open space and the ability to have larger sites. At Mr. Duncan’s request, Ms. Harding directed commissioners to map A or B in the AIS which illustrated where taller buildings could be located. Mr. Carroll agreed Alternate C was problematic, and suggested the focus should be on Alternate A or B. Mr. Lawless stated the commission should be blazing a trail, noting that the pressure of the WUN would not go away and the UO would go no way but up in its demand for housing facilities with an increased student population. He was concerned if a market for higher buildings was not allowed, the City would have Russian housing blocks when the area became saturated. He favored allowing some higher buildings to provide variety. He would support Alternate B. Ms. Beierle agreed with Mr. Lawless on the benefits of taller buildings and would like to keep the options open for them. She was concerned that if building heights were limited, pressures would be placed on other neighborhoods thus creating unforeseen transportation issues.