Adjustments

An Adjustment (ADJ) alters the technical requirements in the zoning ordinance for parking, landscaping, or lot coverage to a certain degree in certain situations. An adjustment is not submitted as a stand-alone project, but is triggered during review of a site plan or building permit. Approval of a requested adjustment is never guaranteed. Based on analysis, staff may also grant a partial adjustment or no adjustment.

References:

• City Ordinance: Sections 14-03-10(10), 14-03-11, and 14-04-03
• Comprehensive Plan: S4(d), S9, G7(a)

Types of Adjustments

Only the following types of adjustments are permitted:

Parking Adjustments: The required off-street parking may be reduced by the Community Development Director if justified. Applicant submits a parking study, which includes:

1. Proposed use, including building plans, with uses identified, narrative of operations, and off-street parking proposed on-site.
2. Estimates of parking demand based on recommendations of the Institute of Traffic Engineers, the American Planning Association, Urban Land Institute, or others. 
3. Reliable data collected from comparable uses, in terms of development type, density, size and scale, and location.
4. A narrative including reference to any of the following: adaptive re-uses, surrounding land uses, anticipated users, seasonal uses, low and moderate housing, availability of transportation choices, walkability index score, and existing or proposed pedestrian infrastructure.
5. Shared parking facilities, including adequate and safe pedestrian access between sites and joint ownership or written shared parking agreement.

Landscaping Adjustments: The required plant materials and quantities in landscape buffers and perimeter parking lot landscaping may be adjusted by City Forester and Directory of Community Development. Applicant submits a narrative explaining need for adjustment and revised landscaping plan.

Lot Coverage Adjustments: The lot coverage in the R5 - Residential zoning district may be increased from 30% up to 40% for a specific parcel, if deemed acceptable by the City Engineer and Community Development Director. Applicant submits a surface water study, which includes:

1. Narrative explaining how the ground area occupied by required off-street parking areas and the principal and accessory buildings does not exceed forty (40) percent.
2. To-scale survey exhibit showing the proposed lot coverage.
3. Exhibit(s) and analysis showing the lot coverage and drainage paths of all other lots within the same stormwater sub-basin, as defined in the conditionally approved Post-Construction Stormwater Management Plan.

Apply:

There is no formal application. If an adjustment is anticipated, the process will be expedited if the required submittal items are provided in advance with a building permit or site plan.