Transcript Slide 1

Astoria Riverfront Vision Code Assistance
The City of
Astoria,
Oregon
City Council
Public Hearing
June 1, 2015
Astoria Riverfront Vision Code Assistance
The City of
Astoria,
Oregon
Bridge Vista Recommendations
● Adopt Comprehensive Plan policy amendments
● Rezone Tourist Commercial (C-2) zone to combination of
General Commercial (C-3) and Shoreland (S-2)
● Adopt Bridge Vista overlay zone
 Changes to selected allowed uses
 New overwater development and access standards
 New design and development guidelines
 Updated parking, landscaping standards
● Create new Pedestrian Oriented District within part of Bridge
Vista area
 Differences in selected allowed uses
 Differences in design and development standards
Astoria Riverfront Vision Code Assistance
The City of
Astoria,
Oregon
Planning Commission Recommendation
and Comments
● Recommend approval by City Council
● No further changes identified by APC
● Amendments not perfect or satisfactory to all community
members but represent good work by staff and APC:
 Balanced approach to addressing economic development view
protection goals
 Design and development guidelines help achieve Riverfront
Vision Plan objectives
 Very important step forward compared to existing requirements
 Adoption should not be delayed
Astoria Riverfront Vision Code Assistance
The City of
Astoria,
Oregon
Astoria Riverfront Vision Code Assistance
The City of
Astoria,
Oregon
Planning Process
● Four work sessions with Planning Commission
● Town Hall meeting
● Alternatives and options for development code and zoning
concepts and amendments
● Overwater development visualizations
● Multiple drafts of potential code amendments
● City Council briefing
● Planning Commission public hearing
● Information and public comments via email, city Website,
telephone, in-person meetings and work sessions
Astoria Riverfront Vision Code Assistance
The City of
Astoria,
Oregon
Bridge Vista Planning Vision Plan
Land Use Assumptions and Objectives
● Continue to support water-dependent uses; allow for
commercial and residential uses that support but don’t
compete with the Downtown core.
● If development is to occur, promote new uses that are
consistent with Astoria’s “working waterfront.”
● Encourage design of new or rehabilitated buildings that
respect Astoria’s character.
● Encourage new development along the River to improve and
celebrate the River Trail and provide visual and periodic
physical access to the water.
Astoria Riverfront Vision Code Assistance
The City of
Astoria,
Oregon
Bridge Vista Planning Vision Plan
Land Use Assumptions and Objectives
● Improve physical connections to adjacent neighborhoods.
● Use setbacks, stepbacks and other measures to ensure an
open feel and continued visual access to the river.
● Change zoning of area west of 2nd Street from Tourist
Commercial to other commercial zone.
● Expand (Uniontown) design overlay for the historic district to
accentuate the historic area (north of US 30) and create a
more prominent gateway for the urban core.
Astoria Riverfront Vision Code Assistance
The City of
Astoria,
Oregon
Comprehensive Plan Policies
● Note importance of River vistas
● Emphasize uses that complement Downtown
● Incorporate references to Riverfront Vision Plan
● Reference commercial & industrial
development definitions
● Ensure consistency with shoreland designation
policies
● Ensure consistency with other land use policies
Astoria Riverfront Vision Code Assistance
The City of
Astoria,
Oregon
Overwater Development Approach
● Height restrictions to protect key vistas – east
and west of bridge and area near 2nd Street
● Allow overwater development in most other
areas
● Limit building widths and heights; provide view
corridors (prevent a wall of buildings)
Astoria Riverfront Vision Code Assistance
The City of
Astoria,
Oregon
Overwater Development Limitation Areas
Astoria Riverfront Vision Code Assistance
The City of
Astoria,
Oregon
Building heights
1. Within limitation areas: Top of bank
1. Outside limitation areas: 35 feet
Astoria Riverfront Vision Code Assistance
The City of
Astoria,
Oregon
Building width requirements
● Building size limitation: Maximum building
width of 150 feet
● Total width of all buildings: Maximum total
width (all structures) 60% of contiguous parcel
width
● View corridors between buildings: 40 feet
Astoria Riverfront Vision Code Assistance
The City of
Astoria,
Oregon
Building width requirements
Astoria Riverfront Vision Code Assistance
The City of
Astoria,
Oregon
Visual Simulations
Hypothetical Scenario
Astoria Riverfront Vision Code Assistance
The City of
Astoria,
Oregon
Visual Simulations – View from 2nd Street
Astoria Riverfront Vision Code Assistance
The City of
Astoria,
Oregon
Visual Simulations – Views from River Trail
From Near Astoria Warehouse
From Basin Street
Astoria Riverfront Vision Code Assistance
The City of
Astoria,
Oregon
Visual Simulations – Views from Uphill
From Grand Street
From Exchange Street
Astoria Riverfront Vision Code Assistance
The City of
Astoria,
Oregon
River Access Requirements – Similar to
Civic Greenway
● Three options – required for new uses
● Access hours to be determined by parks, police
● Walkways, piers 10-14 feet wide, extending
beyond structure to allow views up/down river
Astoria Riverfront Vision Code Assistance
The City of
Astoria,
Oregon
Building Height, Setbacks and Stepbacks
(land zones)
● Maximum Heights: Base height of 35 feet; heights can
be increased to 45 feet with stepbacks
● Setback:
 70’ view corridor
north/south sts.
 10’ setback S. of
trail; 20’ N. of trail
 5’ on Marine Dr.
● Stepback: Required
10’ stepback above
24 feet
Astoria Riverfront Vision Code Assistance
The City of
Astoria,
Oregon
Bridge Vista Zoning Recommendations
● Rezone Tourist Commercial (C-2) zoning west of
2nd Street to General Commercial (C-3)
● Convert most of the existing Tourist Commercial
(C-2) zoning near the bridge to a new pedestrianoriented zone (C-3 base zone)
● Extend portion of existing S-2 zoning to areas of
existing C-2 zoning
● Limit specific uses in all zones, compared to
current zoning
Astoria Riverfront Vision Code Assistance
The City of
Astoria,
Oregon
Bridge Vista Potential Rezoning
Astoria Riverfront Vision Code Assistance
The City of
Astoria,
Oregon
In Aquatic, Shoreland zones, don’t allow:
● Fossil fuel and petroleum product terminals
● Residential uses
● Auto sales and gas stations
● Wood processing
● Retail (aquatic)
● Eating and drinking (aquatic)
● Indoor entertainment
● Hotels/motels (except existing)
● Professional, medical
● Conf. centers (except S. of River Trail)
Astoria Riverfront Vision Code Assistance
The City of
Astoria,
Oregon
Allowed Uses – Recommended Uses Within
C-3, Pedestrian Oriented Zone
Don’t permit these uses in C-3 zone:
● Auto sales & service, gas stations
● Single family homes, duplexes
● Manufacturing without retail
Prohibit these additional uses in Pedestrian area:
● Dog kennels, hospitals, animal hospitals
● Drive-through facilities, commercial parking
● Conference centers
● Warehouses, transp. services, similar uses
Astoria Riverfront Vision Code Assistance
The City of
Astoria,
Oregon
Design Guidelines and Standards
● Emphasize working waterfront and historic
character
● Strengthen pedestrian orientation
● Incorporate additional design guidelines and
standards from Gateway Overlay Zone & Civic
Greenway Overlay Zone
● Vary standards for industrial and non-industrial
uses
● Different standards in pedestrian zone
● Applicable to new construction, major
renovation
Astoria Riverfront Vision Code Assistance
The City of
Astoria,
Oregon
Types of Standards and Guidelines
● Building and roof forms
● Roofing and exterior materials
● Doors and windows
● Awnings and Lighting
● Signs
Astoria Riverfront Vision Code Assistance
The City of
Astoria,
Oregon
Landscaping
● Limit trees north of River Trail
● Parking area landscaping – max
tree heights and widths
● Encourage or require pedestrian
amenities adjacent to development
● Use native plant species
● Encourage plazas, courtyards
north of River Trail
● Use columnar species for street
trees; limit heights
Astoria Riverfront Vision Code Assistance
The City of
Astoria,
Oregon
Off-Street Parking
● Reduce requirements for uses <5,000 square
feet by 50%
● Waive parking requirements for existing uses
that cover the maximum allowable portion of a
site
● Exempt expansions of 10% or less