[Vision2020] Zoning as per Downtown Plan

[Kit Craine]

Here’s the zoning section from the Downtown Plan, courtesy of Barbara 
Richardson Crouch.

Kit Craine


Strategy 1: Revise Zoning Regulations

If Downtown is to compete with other commercial districts locally or
regionally, we must focus on creating a mixed-use, year-round district. 
  The
Moscow Zoning Bylaws for the downtown area are fairly well suited to 
meet
this goal.  However, certain sections can be revised to provide greater
flexibility needed to attract new investment, provides for a mix of 
uses and
opportunities that serve all residents and visitors, enhances Main 
Street’s
traditional civic and historic character, and re-enforce downtown as a
“place of necessity” in the community.

A. Permitted Uses
The long-term viability of Downtown Moscow is dependant on the 
expansion and
flexibility of commercial, professional and residential uses.  A 
combination
of uses including retail, food and entertainment, professional services
(particularly medical with the presence of Gritman Medical Center in the
downtown), light industrial, recreational, cultural, and governmental 
must
be permitted if Main Street is to become a place of necessity for 
residents
and continue to be an attraction for visitors and prospective investors.
Well placed professional offices and residential uses (optimally on 
upper
floors and side streets) fill vacant/underutilized spaces, create
investment, establish year-round economy, provide built in security, and
reduce traffic (i.e. you can live, work, shop and eat all within walking
distance).  Only truly incompatible uses should be separated in a 
downtown
district.  Much of the potential for incompatible uses can be addressed
through performance standards and vertical separation, which would apply
additional requirements to ensure that conflicts between certain uses 
don’t
occur.

B. Dimensional Standards
Main Street’s scale and layout is distinct from all other commercial
districts in the City. The zoning ordinance must ensure that: new
development is built with pedestrians in mind (close or up to the 
sidewalk
and adjacent buildings), no parking is allowed within the front-yard 
setback
but behind or on the side of the building. Landscaping and streetscape
amenities are provided (benches, hard surfaces, street trees, etc).
Sufficient height must be allowed by right to permit new investment and 
a
necessary mix of uses to create a year-round economy and reduce travel
needs.  The City should even consider minimum requirements for height 
(i.e.
two stories or 15 feet) and maximum setbacks (i.e. 10 feet) with 
provisions
for streetscape requirements aimed at improving the pedestrian 
environment.

C. Outdoor Uses
Expanded outdoor uses are very important to attracting residents and
visitors to downtown.  Additional adjustments need to be made to 
existing
regulations permitting outdoor accessory retail, dining, venders,
entertainment, and other attractive uses along Main Street.

D. Sidewalk Café Ordinance
Sidewalk café’s can generate new business and encourage additional
pedestrian traffic, discourage street crime, give identity and vitality 
to
downtown, serve as a special attraction and enhance the aesthetic value 
of
urban life. They must be carefully monitored and regulated to ensure
pedestrian access, sanitary conditions and that they are physically
attractive.

E. Parking
Public parking is well-distributed throughout the downtown area.  
However,
the existing parking requirements should strengthen the opportunity for
shared parking in compatible situations (i.e. professional office and
residential). Also, the City should create a parking fund and revise the
existing permit program. We suggest defining the fund broadly, so that 
it
may be used for any purpose reasonably related to creating or 
reconfiguring
parking, closing or consolidating curb cuts, managing the supply of or
demand for parking spaces, new or improved pedestrian paths or 
amenities,
directional signage, and bicycle parking or public transit facilities.

F. Incorporate Smart Growth Principals
The philosophy behind Smart Growth is to protect open spaces, 
efficiently
utilize local infrastructure and services, and invigorate existing
employment centers and neighborhoods. As applied to Downtown, it means
providing for a higher density of job and housing opportunities because 
of
the established mix of uses, availability of public transportation and
utilities, and other public and private amenities important to existing 
and
prospective residents.

G. Create a Downtown Historic District
A Downtown Historic District would feature the building and places in
downtown that are so important to the development of the community.
Districts are often used as a promotional tool for visitors, and 
national
trends indicate that more people are visiting historic areas than ever
before.  The district would not place any additional restrictions on 
private
properties.  The only potential requirement is if the property owner is
using public funds to make renovations in which case a review of the 
project
would be necessary to ensure compliance with the Department of Interiors
standards for improvements to historic building.  In fact, property 
owners
would be eligible for certain historic preservation tax credits is
renovations are made according to these standards.

H. Establish a Design Review Process for Key Areas
General standards to ensure that the scale, placement and orientation 
of the
building are consistent with the character of the district would help
maintain and enhance the vitality of Main Street.

I. Ensure that the Development Review Process is Efficient
The Planning Department should work with applicants to encourage 
discussion
of projects even before an application is taken out, building 
guidelines are
available to explain the review process, that all departments input is
discussed early in the process, that the approval process is straight
forward and expeditious.

J. Common Dumpster Ordinance
Allow shared dumpster facilities when possible and require dumpsters to 
be
locked at all times.  This helps do reduce offensive odors, scattered 
debris
and rubbish and possible health hazards.  Dumpsters should also be 
screen
from view.  Encouraging joint use or consolidation of use by block to 
cut
down on the overall number of dumpsters.  This is a particular problem 
on
the west side of Main Street in the public parking lot between the 
backs of
the Main Street buildings and Jackson Street.