From the City of Decatur…

Decatur’s Lifelong Community Advisory Board invites the community to complete a survey to help plan the direction for Decatur’s future as a place where people of all ages and resources can live throughout their lifetimes. The board welcomes the community’s input to reach these goals. All Decatur residents, not only senior citizens, may complete the survey at:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/lifelongdecatur

The Decatur City Commission created the board to fulfill the goals of the 2010 Strategic Plan, including assuring our city is a safe, healthy and inviting community for all ages. If you prefer to complete a hard copy of the survey or would like more information, contact staff liaison Lee Ann Harvey at or call . The deadline to complete the survey isFriday, November 21, 2014.

Onto the city’s goals for the coming year under Principle B: Encourage a Diverse and Engaged Community, from this year’s Budget Narrative document…

Decatur already allows for accessory dwellings (aka garage apartments, aka backyard apartments, aka an escape from your loud family), but Task 15b of the 2010 Decatur Strategic Plan calls for greater support of accessory dwellings.

The Zoning Ordinance Update Task Force’s March presentation notes that current regulations surrounding accessory BUILDINGS enforce an 1,000 sq/ft limit, a maximum height of 25 ft, and need to be set back 3′ from the property line.  They are allowed to have a full bath and a kitchen, with the exception of a stove. Accessory DWELLINGS on the other hand have a different set regulations, including occupancy is limited to two people, lots must be in excess of 12,000 sq/ft and be more than 75′ wide, and they must meet the same rear and side yard setbacks of the main house.

There are a number of proposed changes to this ordinance.  Here they are, right out of the presentation…

Any size lot can build an Accessory Dwelling if the following requirements are met:

• 1 unit is owner occupied

• Same side and rear yard setbacks as the main house

• Provide 1 off street parking space per lot

• Is within the 40% floor area and lot coverage maximum

• Is within the maximum 25 foot building height limit

Proposed changes to Accessory Buildings:

To further distinguish the difference between buildings and dwellings, the following changes are suggested:

• A maximum height limit of 15 feet for accessory buildings.
• No more than a ½ bath (sink & toilet) can be built in accessory buildings.

Additional changes to encourage Accessory Dwellings:

• Allow attic and basement apartments to be considered accessory dwelling units.
• Should the city provide pre-approved plans for accessory dwelling units, similar to Seattle, WA.

Got opinions/feedback?  Email Decatur’s Planning Director directly at amandathompson@decaturga.com.

Photo courtesy of Modern Shed

ZOUTF hungry!  ZOUTF want foood!!

Task #3 for Decatur’s Zoning Ordinance Update Task Force is a two-parter – as they say in casual circles of folks who discuss zoning codes.

First off, community gardens.

Though “the city has a long-standing policy of allowing community gardens”, as evidenced by the many that have sprouted up (or “taken root”) around our neighborhood, Decatur doesn’t currently define community gardens “nor list them as an allowable use in any zoning district”.  That means orgs like The Wylde Center (formerly known as the Oakhurst Community Garden) is technically not allowed in Decatur.

Thus, ZOUTF – in response to Decatur Strategic Plan Task 12C, is recommending adding a definition for “community garden” to the ordinance and allowing them in all districts, as well as adding a definition for “Market Garden” to allow them in industrial, mixed use and commercial districts.

Then there are the animals.

Though not listed as a task in the Strategic Plan, ZOUTF wants to “collect input from residents on the issue of animals used for food production in R60 & R85 zoning districts.”

Currently, if you want to raise livestock on your Decatur property, you’ll need to consolidate more than a minimum of 2 acres of land, with 5,000 sq ft for each animal.  That’s livin’! Small animals, such as rabbits, guinea pigs and fowl can be kept as long as certain conditions are met.  Pigs and hogs currently as illegal as smoking in Atlanta parks. (No word on bison.)

So ZOUTF asks you these questions three…

1. “Should we modify the existing regulations to encourage ownership of animals used for food production?”
2. ‘Which animals would you like to see allowed on R60 and R85 properties?”
3. “Under what conditions would you support modifying the existing regulations?”

Check this out.  From Appendix A of the 2010 Decatur Strategic Plan…

As the note on the map says, this graphic is for illustrative purposes only.  But it does give you an idea of remaining redevelopment potential in downtown Decatur.  I’m especially intrigued by the Fairview extension, “linear park” and redeveloped Gateway Apartments next to the Post Office (lower left-hand corner of the map).  Not to mention all the potential along Commerce.  Though we already sorta new about that.

There are conceptual plans like this for all of Decatur’s business districts in the Appendix, including Oakhurst, East Lake Station and East Decatur Station.