Purpose and Need Purpose Increase job and educational opportunities for all residents Maximize fiscal productivity of downtown land uses Diversify retail mix Eliminate surface and building vacancies Create a walkable, transit-oriented urban environment Provide sufficient levels of affordable housing Need Downtown has the greatest concentration of vacancy in the city Current zoning can make it difficult to adaptively reuse property Need for better connections to surrounding neighborhoods Need to preserve historic and architectural heritage
Poughkeepsie City Center Revitalization Plan - 2014
Main Street Economic Development Strategy - 2015 Action #1: Introduce Frequent Transit Service Along Main Street Action #3: Convert the Arterials into Boulevards Action #4: Restore Main Street as the Region s Primary Commercial Corridor Action #5: Convert Vacant Lots in the CBD to Transit-Oriented Housing Action #2: Transform Market Street into a Complete Street
Public Engagement
Slide for Policy Framework doc
Innovation District Policy Framework Placemaking: active streetscape design, building façades that encourage pedestrian activity, well designed and programed public spaces Creative Economy: support local entrepreneurship in creative fields such as applied arts, multimedia, design and light industry Downtown Access and Connections: enhanced pedestrian infrastructure to encourage walking, shopping and socializing Elimination of Vacant Property: flexible zoning and streamlined approvals process to encourage adaptive reuse of vacant property Diversity and Affordability: allow residential use as-of-right to encourage a diversity of housing types at a variety of price points
Traditional Zoning vs Form Based Codes Use-based Text, Tables, and a Map Negative Restrictions Focus on Numbers, Single Parcels, and Parking Lots Separated Use Districts Unpredictable Results De-emphasize use Adds Design Illustrations Gives Positive Examples Emphasis on Urban Form and Streetscape Context Mixed-use Neighborhoods Cohesive Sense of Place
Innovation Subdistricts Historic Core (HC): medium density commercial corridor with vertically mixed buildings. Preservation of historic architecture is encouraged when possible Civic Corridor (CC): medium density, well-designed institutional buildings with significant public access Urban Village (UV): high density multi-family residential with allowances for some office uses and ground floor restaurant/retail/service Creative Edge (CE): lower density transition district that allows for light manufacturing, office and live-work spaces to support the innovation economy
Zoning: Current vs Proposed Today Proposed Permitted Land Uses Allows a variety of retail businesses, professional offices, personal services, entertainment and cultural establishments and related activities, such as parking and pedestrian spaces Permits auto-oriented uses and drivethrough uses Permits a mix of retail, professional offices, and cultural establishments Allows multi-family residential units and live/work spaces as-of-right Prohibits car-oriented businesses such as automobile garages and drive-through uses Prohibits the development of surface parking as the predominant use on any parcel Minimum Lot Coverage Minimum Height None Establishes minimum lot coverage requirements to minimize vacant space and increase density None Establishes minimum height to encourage greater utilization of land in the City s economic center Maximum Height Permits a maximum height of 10 stories throughout the CBB with a potential to increase to 12 stories Varies maximum height allowances from 5 to 9 stories depending on sub district Includes a bonus of two additional stories for developments that provide a community benefit component such as affordable housing Parking Single Family Residence 2 spaces Multi-family Residential o 1 space per studio unit o 1.5 space per one-bedroom unit o 2 spaces per two-bedroom unit Retail 1 space per 300 square feet Restaurant 1 space per 3 seats Office 1 space per 300 square feet Removes minimum parking requirements from Historic Core sub district to facilitate adaptive reuse of existing buildings. Reduces minimum parking requirements for all other districts to allow for better utilization of land and encourage a walkable, pedestrian-oriented downtown. Allows developers to build as much parking as they deem necessary to a projects viability by not including maximum parking requirements
Next Steps Three week public comment period, opened on August 28 th, 2018 All project documents are available on the project website: http://cityofpoughkeepsie.com/rezonedowntown/ Comments may be submitted in writing to project email: RezoneDowntown@cityofpoughkeepsie.com Circulation to County Planning Setting of Public Hearing