PHED Committee Meeting on the CR zone

Today I attended the PHED Committee meeting on the CR zone and even with a layman's understanding of the issues was able to determine some positive and some negative actions.

I am most pleased that the PHED Committee voted 2-1 (Elrich and Knapp in the majority) to remove the Transit Proximity Level 3 as a density incentive. This was proximity to a bus stop. I totally agreed with Councilmember Elrich when he said that transit proximity was a given, not an incentive density.

I remain concerned with the provision that allows averaging of density over one or more CR zones, believing that if you allow increased density in the lower zone closest to the community, you take away the certainty that a Master or Sector Plan is supposed to provide. Councilmember Floreen disagreed with me, stating that the community is concerned with height, not density.

There was a lot of discussion about allowing the Planning Board to approve changes to a sketch plan at the time of site plan review, but the wording proposed by the Planning Board was accepted,

The biggest surprise change came with the staff proposal to delete six criteria for density bonuses: community gardens, floor plate size, bio-retention and stromwater recharge, rainwater reuse, dark skies, and LEED rating. Some of these I had previously suggested be eliminated. Staff was not going to pursue their recommendation to delete these incentives because there is now a provision in the zone to allow the Planning Board to add density incentive criteria, but Councilmember Knapp suggestted deleting them. Councilmember Elrich concurred and Councilmember Floreen was out of the room. So to the chagrin of the Planning Board, this passed.

That ended the meeting on a very liveely note.

Natalie