Ok.  Let’s take the Zoning Ordinance Update Task Force’s recommendations one-by-one.  Hopefully we’ll get through them all by the time of the city commission meeting next week!

First up, a long-time favorite topic among DMers – parking!  Decatur’s parking ordinance has long been criticized as outdated and many simply would point to the numerous parking exemptions the Zoning Board of Appeals has had to make the past few years as proof.

Proponents on either side of various parking battles continued to state that ultimately updated parking standards were necessary.   For years the city asked for patience, as the 2010 Strategic Plan was created followed by the Zoning Task Force to tackle the issue and provide the recommendations.  Now, they’re finally here.  I give you the proposed updates to Decatur’s parking standards.

Here’s my attempt at a summary of the changes.  Let me know what I’ve missed by scouring the detailed docs on the city’s website.

Grandfatherd Parking

• Currently allowed – New uses and all expansion of existing buildings are required to meet the current parking regulations.
• Recommendation – Allow uses of a building to change or an expansion up to 10% without being required to meet current parking regulations.

Mins and Maxs

• Currently allowed – Retail – 1 space per 200 square feet, Restaurant – 1 space per 100 square feet, Office – 1 space per 400 suqare feet, Bowling Alleys – 5 spaces per alley, fraternity and sorority houses – 1 space per bed, and so on…
• Recommendation – 1 minimum requirement (1 parking space per 500 square feet) and 1 maximum requirement (1 parking space per 200 square feet) for ALL commercial uses.  1 minimum (1 parking space) and 1 maximum (2 parking spaces) per dwelling unit.  Also, shared parking shall count towards required spaces.

Shared Parking

• Currently allowed – 50% of parking can be “shared” within 300 feet.
• Recommendation – 80% of parking can be shared within 1,320 feet and 50% can be shared for residential within 300 feet.  Off-site shared parking must have “complementary uses and operating hours” and must be zoned commercial or institutional.

Oakview Road near Second Avenue, Decatur GA (pic submitted by Karen)

• Kristian Bush strips down at Eddie’s Attic [AJC]
• Columbia Ave gas station to become greenspace [Patch]
• Report of another Ford Fry Buckhead restaurant [TNT]
• Atlanta finds fault with Fuqua’s Glenwood Ave/Beltline development [CL]
• A silver lining to global warming? [NYT]
• Turn your beloved old bike into taxidermy [Atlantic Cities]

Photo courtesy of Bicycle Taxidermy

Decatur Planning Director Amanda Thompson sends in this announcement…

After over a year of study and deliberation the Zoning Ordinance Update Task Force (ZTF) will be presenting their final recommendations for consideration to the Planning Commission on Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at 5:30 p.m. and to the City Commission on Monday, December 3, 2012 at 7:30 pm. The proposed recommendations can be found at http://www.decaturga.com/index.aspx?page=641

Based on the direction of the 2010 Strategic Plan the proposed recommendations encourage community gardens, allow for shared parking in commercial areas, update regulations dealing with accessory dwellings and provide new standards for transitions between residential and commercial properties.

Thank you for your past participation on Open City Hall and at the public meetings held throughout this year. The task force members encourage you to attend these final hearings to share your thoughts and if you have written comments please email them to 

We’ll likely go into more detail on these recommendations in the coming days, but for now I thought everyone would like to know the info was available for their perusal and/or intense analysis.

• Tyler Perry filming in Avondale this week [Patch]
• Beltline gets some love from the Urban Land Institute [AP]
• The MARTA “Safety Slide” video [Fox5]
• Lake Lanier at lowest level since historic drought [AJC]
• Best Art Books of 2012 [Brain Pickings]

Picture courtesy of Brain Pickings