town planning « Barbara Cole By The Sea

Abacoa…Recommendations…USEFUL LINKS…TOWN PLANNING…

October 23, 2008 by Barbara

Their recommendations included the following:

• Non-habitable architectural elements should be exempted to promote diversity in building

heights and visually break up facades. The objective is to improve appearances, not to allow

more living space.

• Amend Charter to allow height to exceed 44 feet

in limited areas. The siting of taller four story

buildings should fit into a street hierarchy that

visually supports the higher structures. Since the

town is so small, height exemptions should be

very carefully applied; for instance, near the

ocean the buildings should be lower while those

further back could be higher. The town might

require that proposals for structures that exceed

current limitations undergo additional scrutiny,

such requiring a special use permit that is

evaluated by an architectural review board, if

additional height is needed. Another approach

would be to host citizen charrettes that provide input on appearance as well as placement

and design of a plaza, and creating pedestrian-oriented design standards that support

additional parking.

• Amend Charter to base limitation on stories instead of feet. The town should develop visuals

that demonstrate what the current code encourages (“squished” proportions, low pitched

roofs) and what the proposed amendments would allow. The appropriate heights for floor

types should be identified; mezzanines could be 18’ high while the three stories above could

be limited to 14’

This issue should be addressed as several separate charter amendments. The city will need

experts to help craft the message and public information campaign. The proposals need to be

conveyed visually for the greatest impact.

FAU Design Institute

Urban Land Institutes…Florida

Elizabeth Plater Zyberk..Urban Planner..

Milt Rhodes ….Urban Planner… Abacoa 2005 LBTS Plan

Tim Hernandez…Urban Planner…Abacoa 2005 LBTS Plan

Walter Kulash….Urban Planner….Abacoa 2005 LBTS Plan

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