Committee advances changes to Business Revitalization zoning to align floor-area and height limits

The Rules and City Government Committee voted to recommend favorably on O-30-25, which proposes targeted changes to the Business Revitalization (BR) zoning district at Clay Street and West Washington Street.

Planning staff explained the changes aim to correct a mismatch between floor-area ratio (FAR) and permitted height that currently prevents property owners from achieving the allowable building envelope. Increasing FAR slightly (for example from 2.0 to 2.5 in the proposal's analysis) would allow owners to use the permitted height, the staff report said.

The committee adopted two technical amendments: one to allow limited rooftop structures similar to recent changes elsewhere in the city and another to permit consolidation of split properties across zoning boundaries (a correction staff said should be allowed citywide rather than limited to a single ward). Committee members said builders and property owners had urged the FAR adjustment and that the change would make reasonable redevelopment more feasible.

The committee approved both amendments and then voted for a favorable recommendation to the full City Council.