Staff Recommendation

RECOMMEND that City Council retain the existing underlying C-2 (Central Business) zoning district and approve the D-1 (Downtown Design Overlay) district.

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On September 10, 2009, MPC considered a request from the City Administration to consider extending the D-1 (Downtown Design Overlay) district to encompass all of the City?s property in World?s Fair Park. MPC recommended approval of this request. On 10/6/09, City Council, upon considering the City Administration?s request, referred the matter back to MPC with a request to consider changing the underlying base zoning of World?s Fair Park from C-2 (Central Business) district to OS-1 (Open Space) district. At the November 12, 2009 MPC meeting, the request was postponed to January 14, 2010 MPC meeting. The stated rationale for requesting the change of basic underlying zoning was that City Council in the past had made a special effort to rezone the parks within the city to OS-1. OS-1 zoning is established to provide areas in which the principal use of land is devoted to open space and/or the preservation and protection of park and recreation lands. The current use of the property is compatible with the description of OS-1 zoning. However, OS-1 zoning may preclude other civic-minded uses that would be appropriate for the park. Application of the D-1 overlay to the World's Fair Park site will require the City to acquire Certificates of Appropriateness from the Downtown Design Review Board for future development, if applicable, to meet design guidelines.

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Disposition Summary

C-2 (Central Business) / D-1 (Downtown Design Overlay)