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It starts with a nice brief summary of what zoning is and why we are finally re-writing ours. One benefit of waiting so long is that we can address many many problems at once. #governmentefficiency #arewethereyet

In my opinion the new chapter organization is much clearer and won't require me to explain what a "Planned Unit Development District" means in a city that has not been able to annex land since the desegregation movement, long before most residents were born. #legibility #transparency #opengovernment

There's a nice summary of what we are doing and what we aren't doing here. Here is what we are doing, which is ten big ideas drawn from best practices across the country. If you've been following me here or elsewhere these may seem familiar. #zoningreform

We have a zoning #map. It looks pretty similar to the old map with more intensity clustered near 29 North, #UVA and Downtown but adds new corridors. I'm especially proud of the new Campus designation that shows where a University use might be appropriate for the first time. #collegetown #latetotheparty

And we end with a zoning #glossary and out. Jumping to the topic areas document now https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lkv0PAVvUs7nATAfHKZW9D-k5JCWLcGV/view (six pages)

There has been a great deal of anxiety throughout this process that rule changes actually produce affordable homes. In addition to the subsidies and other strategies in the Affordable Housing Plan, the zoning itself takes a carrot and stick approach depending on scale and location. Input from both for profit and nonprofit builders was essential to get us here. #collaboration

Likewise we have heard a great deal of concern about how transportation and infrastructure will be affected by allowing more homes. This section is more theoretical, talking about focusing growth where the infrastructure is either ready or planned and possible changes to vehicle storage mandates not enumerated here #parkingreform

There is a section here on climate and environmental protection noting that there are environmental advantages to allowing more energy efficient building types and reducing the need for long commutes, as well as a promise to "focus in on new
regulations that could go even further to protect and improve these environmental resources while still advancing our goals to increase housing supply and development opportunities" #conservation #climate

Finally there is a section on "Historic #preservation " which has been a major policy priority in the City for many decades now. The big bold sentence here is "Guidelines and requirements related to historic preservation will remain" . City staff has said that they do want to update and improve this process but that will take a lot of time and money.

Turning back to the actual draft zoning code now https://drive.google.com/file/d/1l-9bDM3dRQguKKsSicUFU575izH-CpJP/view (147 pages)

Working off of my list of concerns from last week's Planning Commission meeting, I am starting by trying to understand the new height regulations, which begin on page 88

I can't explain it yet, but it does appear to be detailed and I am hopeful that staff can understand and explain it. #measuretwicecutonce

I asked about below market rate stacked townhouses and it looks like they will be permitted under the affordable housing bonus program in the R-C and RX-3 areas. Those appear to me to be most common near the University and the southern part of the city which historically have allowed greater diversity of #housing