(AMENDED 9/3/21) 21-O-0456 / Z-21-74 (Atlanta City Design Housing Text Amendment)

UPDATE: The Department of City Planning has issued another AMENDED version of this proposed ACD Housing Text Amendment. Please see AMENDED 10/1/21 version for additional information.

For Review & Comment: 

  • Please see the original draft of this ACD Housing Text Amendment to get an overview of the proposed legislation.

  • The amended version (received 9/3/21) was prepared in response to the community feedback received to date. As we continue to be in the Review & Comment phase this month, there may be additional amendments put forward prior to the final vote.

  • The key updates reflected in the September amended version include:

    • Updated Development Controls for MR-MU:

      • Changes min. lot size from 2,000 to 5,000 s.f.

      • Changes min. street frontage from 25’ to 40’

      • Adds a requirement for a 25’ front yard setback (less than 25’ could be approved if one of the 3 adjacent buildings on either side of the lot have an existing setback less than 25’ - the shorter setback could be matched in this case by applying for a special administrative permit)

      • Adds an allowable maximum lot coverage of 75%

      • Adds a front porch requirement for new construction located on blocks where the majority of existing residential structures have porches. Porches would need to be 8’ min. depth and would be required at the ground floor.

    • Updates to the Accessory Dwelling Unit section:

      • Allows detached ADUs to be a maximum of 1,000 s.f. (instead of 750 s.f.), regardless of the size of the main dwelling.

      • Removes language that excluded ADUs from floor area ratio calculations.

      • Unconditioned space in a detached ADU shall count towards the total 30% floor area allowance for accessory structures.

      • Updates for-sale ADU language to clarify that only 1 zero-lot-line is allowed per lot.

Josh Humphries, Director of the Office of Housing & Community Development for the Department of City Planning gave a presentation on the proposed legislation at the August NPU-N Meeting on 8/26/21.  He explained the background on how this legislation was developed and why it is important to Atlanta.  NPU-N representatives were able to provide feedback, comments, and express concerns.  The dialogue included suggestions for amendments which could improve the legislation, some of which are reflected in the amended version above.  To listen to the audio from that presentation, click on this link.  His presentation begins at approximately 1:15:05 and continues to 2:29:00.

We encourage everyone to learn more about the proposed legislation and to engage in the process at the neighborhood & NPU levels.  Questions and comments may also be submitted directly to Josh Humphries at the Office of Housing & Community Development in addition to Councilmember Amir Farokhi who has sponsored this legislation.

PHNA