Planning staff moves to reinstate downtown PUD-style minor height-measurements

Planning Department staff presented a draft resolution to initiate an amendment to Section 309.1 of the Planning Code to restore a narrowly defined ability for projects in downtown residential districts (e.g., Rincon Hill and South Beach) to seek minor height-measurement variations similar to those available under PUD rules (Section 304). Staff said an inadvertent change during the Eastern Neighborhoods amendments removed that limited measurement flexibility for downtown residential districts, and the proposed initiation would allow the commission to hold a future public hearing to consider the amendment and any specific thresholds or diagrams.

Staff and the zoning administrator clarified that the proposal would change how height is measured (the reference line or frontage used), not the height district itself; that the intent is to allow small measurement shifts that could alter measured height by a couple of feet on large lots; and that changes larger than about 4.9 feet could approximate rezoning and would be inappropriate. Commissioners asked staff to bring diagrams and project examples when this item returns so they and the public can see how measurement variations would be applied in practice.

The commission voted to initiate the amendment so the item can return for formal consideration and public hearing.