Sweet Auburn, MLK District Zoning Changes Meeting Tonight

Atlanta City Councilman Kwanza Hall is partnering with the city of Atlanta Office of Planning, Central Atlanta Progress and Sweet Auburn Works to lead a collaborative community-driven process to update the zoning regulations of the Sweet Auburn neighborhood - officially referred to as the City of Atlanta Code of Ordinances Chapter 20C Martin Luther King, Jr. Landmark District.

Hall invites everyone to attend this, the first Community Workshop to kick-off this effort. You will learn more about the process and have the opportunity to share your opinions and ideas about the future growth and development of the area.

The meeting is scheduled for tonight, Thursday, May 30, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Big Bethel AME Church Fellowship Hall, 220 Auburn Ave. NE. (Free parking behind the church in the parking lot at 195 John Wesley Dobbs Ave.)

The need to update the rules that govern the construction and use of buildings and land within the historic district has been identified repeatedly through community plans including the Butler-Auburn Redevelopment Plan of 2005, the Imagine Downtown Plans of 2004 and 2009, and the Old Fourth Ward Redevelopment Plan of 2008.

To achieve the vision and goals of these plans, updates to the zoning regulations are recommended.  Zoning laws are a critical tool for guiding the growth and development of a community.  Ensuring that the laws are consistent with adopted plans is crucial.

The changes that are anticipated to be made to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Landmark District regulations are intended to:

• Protect the historic resources and character of the Sweet Auburn neighborhood
• Support investments in the re-use of existing buildings and the construction of new buildings on vacant lots
• Foster an urban, walkable mixed-use district that supports streetcar transit
• Make the rules easier for owners and developers to understand and for staff to administer

Among the topics to be addressed during the process:

• The types of businesses and land uses desired; the appropriateness of temporary uses, if any
• The appropriate height of buildings and density of development
• The appropriateness of partial building demolitions, sometimes called 'facadectomy'
• Off-street parking options
• Standards for streetscapes and urban design

The process will culminate with the fall 2013 introduction of text amendment legislation by the Atlanta City Council.  Council adoption of the legislation is anticipated in December 2013 or early 2014. The experienced consultant team of Market +Main (land use and urban design specialists) and Maddox, Nix, Bowman & Zoeckler (attorneys) will assist with the necessary technical work throughout the process.

Throughout the process visit www.atlantadowntown.com/mlkzoing for updates.