Have you ever wished that you could sit down at an event in one of Decatur’s fine commercial districts and know that both the glass and the beer you are enjoying were created by that Renaissance person behind the counter of that solar-powered pub?  (They made the solar panels on-site too, by the way!)

Well you can’t, thanks to the city’s current zoning code.

But seriously, ANY of these practices are not currently allowed in most of Decatur’s commercial districts and many aren’t defined – and by default – not allowed.  But Decatur’s ZOUTF (Zoning Ordinance Update Task Force) is looking to change that and expand the areas where “light manufacturing”, such as breweries, glassblowing, artisanal food processing can occur.  Responding to Decatur’s Strategic Plan Task 2C (Identify available areas for light manufacturing and market them to potential businesses), ZOUTF is recommending allowance of “artisanal food processing, clean technology, and high-value consumer goods” in both C3 (Heavy Commercial) and the more prevalent C2 commercial zoning districts.

Have an opinion about this?  Send your comments and concerns to Decatur Planning Director Amanda Thompson (amanda.thompson@decaturga.com) post-haste to be heard before the recommendations – including this one – are presented to the Decatur City Commission.

Photo of San Fran’s “Hot Glass | Cold Beer” event courtesy of sarah sosiak via Flickr

OK, so I just glanced over Decatur’s 2010 Strategic Plan one last time and realized some of the most interesting “tasks” in the whole document are under the three goals that I never posted.  Read them in full for yourself HERE, or you can read my filtered version below.  It’s YOUR internet, MAN!

Without further ado, here are the abbreviated DM highlights of “Principle D: Support a Safe, Healthy, Lifelong Community”.

Under Goal 14: Enhance mobility options within and to Decatur

Task 14A: Implement the recommendations of the Community Transportation Plan.

Task 14D: Establish a speed limit of 30 miles per hour on all city streets to increase safety and make walking and biking more desirable.

Task 14H: Update parking standards to allow innovative parking strategies, such as shared or unbundled parking.

Task 14I: Promote more efficient use of parking with electronic signs, shared use of existing lots and decks, consolidated parking meters, more strict enforcement, higher parking fines, and similar techniques.

Under Goal 15: Expand the variety of high quality housing options to meet the needs of a diverse community

Task 15B: Adopt ordinance changes that allow smaller homes and support accessory dwellings to support affordable housing options in single family neighborhoods. Educate the public about their characteristics and benefits.

Task 15E: Support a wholistic understanding of affordability that looks beyond simple rent or sale price.

And finally under Goal 16: Provide programs and services that support and enhance a safe, healthy, and active lifestyle

Task 16A: Expand the off-street path system throughout the community, especially by using vacant or unbuildable lots, utility corridors, or stream corridors to create mid-block passages.

Task 16F: Improve Dearborn Park.

Also on the docket for tonight’s Decatur City Commission meeting: final approval of the now- complete 2010 Decatur Strategic Plan!

Asst. City Manager Lyn Menne recaps in a letter to the City Manager (page 13 of the meeting materials) that the plan is the result of  a 14 month effort, which included input by over 1,200 Decatur residents.  Over the past few weeks, I’ve tried to highlight most of the goals of the plan here on DM, so hopefully we’re pretty much up-to-speed on the basic elements which will be included in the final version presented this evening.

Of course, the creation of the plan is just the beginning.  As Ms. Menne notes…

This is an ambitious document that includes sixteen goals and 89 individual tasks.  The success of this plan requires continued citizen involvement and commitment to its implementation.  The plan identifies several important implementation partners whose involvement is essential to the city’s ability to accomplish the goals and tasks outlined in the plan.

As soon as I can get my hands (er…mouse?) on a copy of the finalized plan, I will post.  For now, here’s a final link to the draft that was posted a few weeks back.