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Discussion Draft Chapter 3: Rules for Zoning Districts

Review and comment on the draft rules of interpretation.

The Rules for Zoning Districts chapter contains the terms and standards used in assorted zoning districts. Most of the standards within this chapter are unchanged from existing standards but have been consolidated for ease of use.  

Please share any thoughts you have about the Rules for Zoning Districts with us. Your comments will be used to shape the future drafts of ATL Zoning 2.0.
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in reply to Laurel David's comment

SiteAdmin Feb 20 2025 at 12:22PM on page 63

Answer
No. This is intended to refer to "primary" dwelling units. We will update this.
replies
in reply to Laurel David's comment

SiteAdmin Feb 20 2025 at 12:18PM on page 56

Answer
Thanks. This is one of the "administrative variations" that is frequently requested and almost always approved. These alternative compliance standards seek to codify existing practice.
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in reply to Laurel David's comment

SiteAdmin Feb 20 2025 at 12:16PM on page 53

Answer
Thanks for the suggestion
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Laurel David Feb 18 2025 at 2:34PM on page 63

Question
Does this apply to ADUs. what if it is in the backyard and doesn't "face" a street?
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Laurel David Feb 18 2025 at 2:32PM on page 56

Suggestion
Nice! we've always had to ask an exception to be able to do this
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Laurel David Feb 18 2025 at 2:28PM on page 53

Suggestion
you might want to change the order. As currently written it this section seems to contradict what it says above. make the current subsection "a" the last one so it acts like an exception to what is above.
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in reply to LarryA's comment

SiteAdmin Feb 7 2025 at 5:06PM on page 37

Answer
Thank you for your feedback.
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in reply to LarryA's comment

SiteAdmin Feb 7 2025 at 5:03PM on page 36

Answer
Thank you for your requirement. This has been a requirement in some districts since 2018, but we will take your comment into consideration.
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in reply to LarryA's comment

SiteAdmin Feb 7 2025 at 5:00PM on page 10

Answer
Thank you for your feedback.
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LarryA Feb 7 2025 at 4:44AM on page 37

Suggestion
20ft is far to much. 10 to 15ft would be more reasonable. Areas such as Edgewood and town homes in Midtown already are not able to follow this. The further the city insists on houses be from the street makes it harder in the future to add infill housing, ADUs, and/or densify said lot in the future.
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LarryA Feb 7 2025 at 4:35AM on page 36

Suggestion
This 10ft setback should be removed. Many of the new building that are currently going up now do not conform to this and most modern day house plans do not have the garage recessed 10ft. This just makes the building cost higher for plans to be altered or time wasted for a variance/relief from this provision. The same requirements for a carport should also apply to a garage.
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LarryA Feb 7 2025 at 4:18AM on page 10

Suggestion
I would remove gravel or give it an * where that material can be looked at on case by case bases for that specific use case. There are some good permeable options and I would hate for those options to be counted negatively especially on smaller city lots.
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in reply to Hunter Hughes's comment

SiteAdmin Feb 6 2025 at 4:28PM on page 37

Answer
Thank you for your feedback. The intent of this standard is to discourage ensure that garages do not dominate the front facade and interrupt the sidewalk. On a (very rare) 25-foot-wide lot, this allows a single 10-foot wide driveway. Tanden parking is allowed under the new code. Alley use is highly encouraged.
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in reply to peterhsu's comment

SiteAdmin Feb 3 2025 at 9:08AM on page 17

Answer
Thank you for your feedback.
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peterhsu Feb 1 2025 at 9:55AM on page 17

Suggestion
A continued lack of sidewalks on major streets would be a very disappointing outcome here. Many outlying suburbs in Atlanta have invested in superior pedestrian infrastructure and now have the home values to show for it. Even in our “house” scale neighborhoods (e.g. North Buckhead) people are often seen trying to take a walk in their neighborhood with pets or children, and it’s very unsafe to have them forced to walk in the roadway. A minimal sidewalk (the 5’ FHA recommended min) and 2’ amenity strip would make a big difference in these neighborhoods, and at a minimum should be required on all major streets.
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in reply to Hunter Hughes's comment

SiteAdmin Jan 31 2025 at 8:24AM on page 48

Thank you for your feedback.
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in reply to Hunter Hughes's comment

SiteAdmin Jan 31 2025 at 8:23AM on page 36

Answer
Thank you for your feedback!
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in reply to Hunter Hughes's comment

SiteAdmin Jan 31 2025 at 8:22AM on page 36

Answer
Thank you for your feedback. This is a current requirement that was carried over into the new code - it has been the law since 2018 in single-family zoning districts, but we will explore updating it.
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Hunter Hughes Jan 31 2025 at 7:14AM on page 37

Suggestion
On small parcels, and zero lot line construction.. this 40% requirement will not be feasible. If the city want to promote density but then has contradictory rules like this, its making little sense. There are neighborhoods where the lots have such little frontage that this will be impossible to comply with. There would be more specificity and the inclusion of exceptions for small intercity lots in certain neighborhoods. This was written by someone who lives in a suburban neighborhood or a spacious neighborhood like Inman or Grant park. Go to other neighborhoods like Cabbage town, home park, etc.. and you will see this wouldn't work well there in creating a functional lot.
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Hunter Hughes Jan 31 2025 at 7:10AM on page 48

Suggestion
This is nice in theory, but in certain intercity areas, like midtown, home park, west midtown... I think you should consider safety. There are townhome and duplex and other home designs where the main living level is on floor 2 and the bottom floor is for parking.. This increases security substantially. Packages are less likely to be stolen up a set of stairs, and people from the street are less likely to intrude when the living areas are elevated. This policy seems more appropriate for neighborhoods like grant park, Reynoldstown, Ansley, etc.. but you should really really really consider that rules like this are not one-size-fits all.
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Hunter Hughes Jan 31 2025 at 6:57AM on page 36

Suggestion
Limiting the width of the garage is not functional for duplex designs, or modern contraption. If the core of these garage ideas are to limit a garage from being the focus of a home facade, there are other ways to accomplish this. The type of garage matters, for example, you can have a garage that looks like slatted modern wood in modern homes and not even realize it's a garage, it looks like a wall.
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Hunter Hughes Jan 31 2025 at 6:56AM on page 36

Suggestion
This garage requirement is not a good idea when considering any modern dwelling design. Firstly, a garage being 10ft recessed from the front facade is a nonsensical requirement, you will still have the garage in plain view.. and yet this is very limiting architecturally. I live in a modern home with several modern homes across from me and none of them follow this format and yet, look great. Some garages look like a facade of a home too, and are very expensive and appealing. In your structural example drawn below, imagine that garage 10ft forward or back.. it doesn't change the view of the home in any tangible way.
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in reply to Louis Prevosti's comment

SiteAdmin Jan 23 2025 at 6:22PM on page 10

Answer
Thanks for your feedback!
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in reply to Louis Prevosti's comment

SiteAdmin Jan 23 2025 at 6:22PM on page 10

Answer
Thanks for your feedback!
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in reply to Louis Prevosti's comment

SiteAdmin Jan 23 2025 at 6:17PM on page 10

Answer
Thank you for your comment.
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in reply to Louis Prevosti's comment

SiteAdmin Jan 23 2025 at 5:16PM on page 10

Answer
Thank you for your suggestion.
replies

andrewk Jan 23 2025 at 6:45AM on page 10

Suggestion
Is it possible to add a category for certain gravel installations to be considered at least partially permeable? Permeable pavers are permeable because they have a very small amount of porous material (gravel) in between the much larger quantity of (non-porous) pavers, so why not grant at least some permeability to gravel installations (i.e. over open aggregate base) that will not be more prone to compaction than some of our regional soils?
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in reply to SiteAdmin's comment

Louis Prevosti Jan 22 2025 at 10:01AM on page 10

Suggestion
In my mind, lot coverage and impermeable surfaces in the zoning code is not precisely the same as what the Dept. of Watershed determines or calculates. The two sets of rules may not always align. Watershed Management is interested in just one aspect of a development site, namely the hydrology aspect. Zoning code has many other aspects it covers beyond hydrology, such as neighborhood conformity, aesthetics, tree protection, and other aspects of the wellbeing of the city and its people as it pertains to planning and development . Dept of Zoning and Development, NPUs, and developers cannot be constantly deferring to Watershed for determinations of imprecise zoning code. And in the end, the if two city departments differ in opinion, the stricter or more confining of the two opinions rules, according to city ordinance.
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Louis Prevosti Jan 22 2025 at 9:39AM on page 10

Suggestion
I recommend all gravel surfaces be considered impermeable, by definition. To do otherwise will create loop holes that developers will use to increase lot coverage: "That's not a driveway, that's a wide walking path." Defining all gravel surfaces as impermeable will prevent a lot of conflict.
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Louis Prevosti Jan 22 2025 at 9:28AM on page 10

Suggestion
Please add "pavers" to this section. All pavers should be included as impermeable surface area, by definition. Otherwise each type and brand of paver will require determination, and developers will try to claim that areas with pavers should not count toward lot coverage.
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Louis Prevosti Jan 22 2025 at 9:25AM on page 10

Suggestion
Please add parking area and turnarounds. These areas are included in the current zoning code and should be carried through to 2.0. It is important that they be listed in this area so they are, by definition, included in the impermeable surface area. Otherwise developers will claim they do not need to be included as impermeable surface.
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Jennifer Friese Jan 21 2025 at 9:55AM on page 32

Suggestion
Thank you, I think this is very good for tree preservation.
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Jennifer Friese Jan 21 2025 at 9:48AM on page 26

Question
I can't wrap my head around the concept of DECREASING a set back by 50% to preserve trees. Can you explain how this would benefit tree preservation?
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in reply to lbrennan6's comment

SiteAdmin Jan 13 2025 at 12:20PM on page 16

Answer
The design of the roadways, which are public property, is not legally controlled by zoning. Roadway design is controlled by the Atlanta DOT or GDOT, depending on jurisdiction.
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in reply to lbrennan6's comment

SiteAdmin Jan 13 2025 at 12:11PM on page 16

Answer
There is a proposed standard that would require streetscapes to conform to official city plans. This would address your concern.
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lbrennan6 Jan 13 2025 at 10:29AM on page 16

Suggestion
Please detail effective road dieting strategies for enhancing the public realm during streetscape design.
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in reply to lbrennan6's comment

lbrennan6 Jan 13 2025 at 10:27AM on page 17

Suggestion
Re-painting/striping could suffice as a solution (temp or long-term) at Piedmont Ave, 5th Street, DeKalb Ave, Edgewood, Euclid, etc.
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lbrennan6 Jan 13 2025 at 10:25AM on page 17

Suggestion
Major street types should all require dedicated and protected bike lanes for cyclists and micro-mobility. Especially on Major streetscapes - bike lanes should always be between any vehicle traffic/parking needs and the sidewalk. Major streets should also include a buffer. i.e. drive lane | street parking (optional)| buffer zone | bike lane (or 2-way cycle track) | amenity zone | peds
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lbrennan6 Jan 13 2025 at 10:20AM on page 16

Suggestion
Bicycle parking and dedicated ride lane requirements need to be outlined as part of the streetscape codes.
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Jennifer Friese Jan 13 2025 at 8:58AM on page 17

Suggestion
This is a great change from 2" - thank you!
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in reply to KUA's comment

SiteAdmin Jan 10 2025 at 10:20AM on page 64

Answer
This will be clarified - what we were trying to say is that there has to be an awning (covered entry) and we provide the details for that on 3-67. It's confusing because there is also an entry feature called "Covered Entry". Adding to the list of revisions for clarity.
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in reply to KUA's comment

SiteAdmin Jan 10 2025 at 10:19AM on page 39

Answer
Steeply sloped sites are why we give an option for Height in Stories to be calculated by modules. See 10-3 to see how Average Grade is calculated for modules, this method is used for steeply sloped sites. Also, see 10-13 to see how Ground Story is determined for modules.
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in reply to Jennifer Friese's comment

SiteAdmin Jan 7 2025 at 5:19PM on page 5

Answer
The subdivision ordinance will remain and continue to be separate from the zoning ordinance.
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Jennifer Friese Jan 7 2025 at 1:58PM on page 6

Question
Does only the number of dwelling units become conforming or does the building itself become conforming? And if conforming then may the building be added on to/ renovated?
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in reply to SiteAdmin's comment

Jennifer Friese Jan 7 2025 at 1:54PM on page 5

Question
Will the existing Subdivision ordinance remain intact or will subdivisions be moved into the new zoning code?
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in reply to dimmickph's comment

SiteAdmin Jan 6 2025 at 12:39PM on page 17

Answer
Thank you for your feedback.
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dimmickph Dec 20 2024 at 1:22PM on page 17

Suggestion
The methodology for calculating standard sidewalk width in the Post-COVID world should accommodate dogs on leashes.
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Jennifer Friese Dec 12 2024 at 4:48PM on page 8

Suggestion
This is a good specification, thank you.
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Jennifer Friese Dec 12 2024 at 4:34PM on page 3

Question
Where do we find where sublots are permitted?
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in reply to Jim Winer's comment

SiteAdmin Dec 9 2024 at 11:03AM on page 6

Answer
Thanks for your suggestion.
replies
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