DEPARTMENT: Planning and Community Development
DEPARTMENT HEAD: John Dugan, AICP
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: 1 & small portions of 2 and 5
SUBJECT:
Downtown Design Guide
SUMMARY:
The 72 page Design Guide has been developed to assist the Historic and Design Review Committee (HDRC) assess the designs of non-historic infill building/redevelopment in Downtown San Antonio. Several Council adopted policy documents including the 2012 Center City Strategic Framework Implementation Plan recommend that the City develop design criteria for the future development of Downtown.
The adoption of the Design Guide requires amendments to the D (Downtown) Zoning District in the Unified Development Code (UDC) and to incorporate the Design Guide as an appendix within the UDC, as well as code amendments to clarify the terms Central Business District and Downtown Business District in Chapters 13, 16, and 22 of the City Code.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On July 22, 2012 the City Council adopted the Center City Strategic Framework Implementation Plan. The Implementation Plan provides recommendations regarding implementation of the Downtown Strategic Framework Plan through increased public investment, creation of a housing finance strategy, coordinated management, and regulation of development.
As it pertains to regulation of development, the Implementation Plan recommended that the City implement a new framework that regulates form, use, and density for public and private projects and enables a thorough urban design review of development projects. The Plan specifically recommended the City initiate the formulation of design guidelines for the Center City. Design guidelines are intended to provide a clear design framework for future development in the downtown and provide increased predictability regarding the development review process.
In a separate and distinct process, the Infill Development Task Force, tasked with reviewing infill deve...
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