Adopted July 2007

BACKGROUND: Infill development (replacing a single residential home or construction of a single home on an unused lot in established neighborhoods) is a tool of Smart Growth, has a revitalizing effecton neighborhoods and should be encouraged in the interest of utilizing and improving existing infrastructure. Infill development allows greater density, encourages transportation and housing choice, and enhances the urban landscape. The issue of size and scale in relation to existing homes leads some lawmakers to perceive a need to establish regulations to accommodate the changes. Such regulatory controlscan restrict the ability of infill development to compete with conventional projects in previously undeveloped areas outside the urban core.

POSITION: Local governments should promote and encourage infill development as part of the larger planning framework for the community. Development standards should promote high quality development of a size and type that is consistent with the articulated purposes of the particular district in which an infill project is being proposed. Residential scale ordinances should not be inflexible, burdensome, or overly restrictive to private property owners. The process for review and approval of infill development projects should be streamlined, with a focus on achieving desired outcomes rather than strict regulatory control.

ACTION: To support passage of proposed City of Atlanta Ordinance Z-07-44, with exception of the inclusion of attic space in the calculation of Floor Area Ratio.