Zoning 2.0 Survey #4 Recommendations: Conservation area alternatives
Sign Our Petition to tell our Planning Commissioner to prioritize increasing the total number of homes, increasing affordability, and promoting pedestrian-friendly policies in this zoning rewrite!
The City of Atlanta is asking for your input in its Zoning rewrite AGAIN. This time, they're asking about conservation areas, which are low-density parts of the city where it's typically only legal to build expensive single-family houses. Almost 3/4 of Atlanta is designated as a 'Conservation Area'. Housing will never become more affordable if Atlanta continues to ban apartments and missing-middle homes on a majority of our city's land!
So we asked our experts to help us complete the survey with the goal of identifying responses that will prioritize increasing the total number of homes, increasing affordability, and promoting pedestrian-friendly policies.
Below are Abundant Housing Atlanta's recommendations for how to respond to the survey based on our values.
Check out our recommendations below. We have bolded and written in red our recommendations for those answers.
We hope this guide is helpful to you in filling out the survey! Please share with your friends!
Conservation Area Preliminary Direction - General
Primary Concept Question
Do you have any ideas for GENERAL STANDARDS in all Conservation Areas that you haven’t previously shared in-person or online?
Eliminate Single-family zoning city-wide and allow at least 4 units by-right on all residential lots.
Please leave additional comments below:
Clarifying Concept Questions
Keep Many Existing Standards
1. Keep existing R1-R5 (or equivalent) standards.
Including existing floor area ratios.
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (write in below)
Please leave additional comments below:
Allow at least 4 units on all residential lots.
2. Keep Neighborhood Commercial (NC) districts.
Should this concept be included in the first draft of the new Zoning Ordinance?
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (Write in below)
Please leave additional comments below:
Keep existing “use districts” that can apply to areas with a detached house character:
3. A. Keep existing single-family (e.g., R-1 - R-3, R-4B).
Should this concept be included in the first draft of the new Zoning Ordinance?
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (describe)
Please leave additional comments below:
Allow at least 4 units on all residential lots.
3. B. Keep existing single-family + detached ADU (e.g., R-4, R-4A).
Should this concept be included in the first draft of the new Zoning Ordinance?
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (write in below)
Please leave additional comments below:
Allow at least 4 units on all residential lots.
3. C. Keep existing two-family + detached ADU (e.g., R-5).
Should this concept be included in the first draft of the new Zoning Ordinance?
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (write in)
Please leave additional comments below:
Allow at least 4 units on all residential lots.
Update Some Standards
4. Require matching existing front setbacks in some areas (that want it).
Should this concept be included in the first draft of the new Zoning Ordinance?
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (write in)
Please leave additional comments below:
5. Calculate floor area the same in all districts.
Should this concept be included in the first draft of the new Zoning Ordinance?
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (write in below)
Please leave additional comments below:
Increase floor area maximums for parcels with ADUs, duplexes, or multi-unit dwellings.
6. Include accessory buildings in floor area in all districts.
Should this concept be included in the first draft of the new Zoning Ordinance?
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (write in below)
Please leave additional comments below:
Allow additional floor area and lot coverage for accessory buildings. Increase max floor area for ADUs or multi-family buildings.
7. Allow two-bedroom accessory dwelling units (where allowed).
Should this concept be included in the first draft of the new Zoning Ordinance?
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (write in below)
Please leave additional comments below:
Create New Standards
Develop alternative standards for specific uses that might be in conservation areas but don’t match the general zoning rules:
8. A. Develop alternative standards for existing or new civic uses.
Should this concept be included in the first draft of the new Zoning Ordinance?
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (write in)
Please leave additional comments below:
8. B. Develop alternative standards for existing or new small multi-family uses.
Should this concept be included in the first draft of the new Zoning Ordinance?
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (write in below)
Please leave additional comments below:
Allow small multi-family buildings in all residential zones.
8. C. Develop alternative standards for existing or new corner stores.
Should this concept be included in the first draft of the new Zoning Ordinance?
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (write in below)
Please leave additional comments below:
8. D. Develop alternative standards for new live-work uses.
Should this concept be included in the first draft of the new Zoning Ordinance?
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (write in below)
Please leave additional comments below:
Allow live-work uses in all residential parcels.
8. E. Develop alternative standards for new cottage courts/pocket neighborhood.
Should this concept be included in the first draft of the new Zoning Ordinance?
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (write in)
Please leave additional comments below:
Allow cottage court and multi-family buildings on all residential parcels.
9. Create conservation frontage tools for areas that don’t want to be historic districts but do want some limited standards.
Should this concept be included in the first draft of the new Zoning Ordinance?
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (write in below)
[AHA note: This isn’t great, but if may be a better alternative to historic districts.]
Please leave additional comments below:
10. Update standards for double frontage lots to avoid requiring variances.
Should this concept be included in the first draft of the new Zoning Ordinance?
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (write in below)
Please leave additional comments below:
11. Allow pre-1945 storefronts to always be used for commercial uses (but with limits on the type and size of businesses).
Should this concept be included in the first draft of the new Zoning Ordinance?
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (write in below)
Please leave additional comments below:
Legalize new small corner-stores in residential neighborhoods by-right.
12. Develop new “use districts” that could apply to some areas desiring a detached “house” character
12.A. Develop a new U1-A use district.
Permitted Uses: single-unit, attached or detached ADU
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (write in below)
Please leave additional comments below:
Eliminate single-family only zoning and allow at least 4 units on all parcels by right.
12.B. Develop a new U1-B use district.
Permitted Uses: single-unit, attached or detached ADU, cottage court/pocket neighborhood
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (write in below)
Please leave additional comments below:
Eliminate single-family only zoning and allow at least 4 units on all parcels by right, including cottage court.
12.C. Develop a new U4-A use district.
Permitted Uses: single-unit, attached or detached ADU, cottage court/pocket neighborhood | Restricted Uses: Up to 4 units
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (write in below)
Please leave additional comments below:
Allow at least 4 units on all parcels by right, without restriction.
12.D. Develop a new U4-B use district.
Permitted Uses: single-unit, attached or detached ADU, cottage court/pocket neighborhood, up to 4 units | Restricted Uses: corner stores
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (write in below)
Please leave additional comments below:
Allow at least 4 units on all parcels by right, without restriction.
12.E. Develop a new U4-C use district.
Permitted Uses: single-unit, attached or detached ADU, cottage court/pocket neighborhood, up to 4 units, corner stores
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (write in below)
Please leave additional comments below:
Allow at least 4 units on all parcels by right, without restriction.
12.F. Develop a new U8-A use district.
Permitted Uses: single-unit, attached or detached ADU, cottage court/pocket neighborhood | Restricted Uses: Up to 8 units
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (write in below)
Please leave additional comments below:
Allow up to 8 units by-right, without restriction.
12.G. Develop a new U8-B use district.
Permitted Uses: single-unit, attached or detached ADU, cottage court/pocket neighborhood, up to 8 units | Restricted Uses: Corner stores
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (write in below)
Please leave additional comments below:
Allow up to 8 units by-right, without restriction.
12.H. Develop a new U8-C use district.
Permitted Uses: single-unit, attached or detached ADU, cottage court/pocket neighborhood, up to 8 units, corner stores
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (write in below)
Please leave additional comments below:
Allow up to 8 units by-right, without restriction.
Get rid of zoning tools that will no longer be needed
13. Get rid of all Planned Development (PD Districts), even in Growth Areas, except PD-CS.
Abundant Housing Atlanta Note: Planned Development districts are special zones that allow the city to create special zoning rules for individual large developments that would not fit well into other existing zones. PD-CS, “Conservation Subdivision” is a special kind of single-family residential zone reserved for parcels located near natural features such as streams, forests, ridges, slopes, or archaeological sites or cemeteries. We think that it’s generally important to keep special districts as tools to enable more flexible zoning in certain cases.
Should this concept be included in the first draft of the new Zoning Ordinance?
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (write in below)
Please leave additional comments below:
Keep planned development districts to provide flexibility in special cases. Allow duplexes and small multifamily buildings in PD-CS zones wherever single-family homes are allowed.
Conservation Area Preliminary Direction - Urban
Primary Concept Question
Do you have any ideas for ZONING STANDARDS in Urban Conservation Areas that you haven’t previously shared in-person or online?
Remember, ideas for changing a property’s land use should be made during the Comprehensive Plan Update.
Please leave additional comments below:
Clarifying Concept Questions
Form Standards
14. Reduce R-4B (or equivalent) lot width standards when vehicle access is provided from a new or existing open alley.
Should this concept be included in the first draft of the new Zoning Ordinance?
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (write in below)
Please leave additional comments below:
15. Adjust accessory building height to allow two full stories (typically 20 ft today).
Should this concept be included in the first draft of the new Zoning Ordinance?
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (Write in below)
Please leave additional comments below:
16. Reduce side setbacks in some Urban Conservation Areas to match existing patterns.
Should this concept be included in the first draft of the new Zoning Ordinance?
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (describe)
Please leave additional comments below:
Reduce all side setback requirements. Allow zero-lot-line homes.
17. Allow asymmetrical side setbacks in some Urban Conservation Areas to match existing patterns.
Should this concept be included in the first draft of the new Zoning Ordinance?
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (write in below)
Please leave additional comments below:
18. Create new lot standards for the typical 45-50 ft. wide, 5,000 sf Urban Conservation Area lot.
Should this concept be included in the first draft of the new Zoning Ordinance?
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (write in)
Please leave additional comments below:
Reduce all side setback requirements. Allow zero-lot-line homes.
19. Develop a sliding scale for nonconforming lot of record side setback and coverage standards.
Should this concept be included in the first draft of the new Zoning Ordinance?
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (write in)
Frontage Standards
Update existing frontage types.
20.A. Update existing porch or stoop standards (where one is dominant).
Should this concept be included in the first draft of the new Zoning Ordinance?
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (write in)
Please leave additional comments below:
Reduce restrictions on frontage construction.
20.B. Update existing front garage standards.
Should this concept be included in the first draft of the new Zoning Ordinance?
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (write in below)
Please leave additional comments below:
21. Update standards to reduce or eliminate paving front yards for parking.
Should this concept be included in the first draft of the new Zoning Ordinance?
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (write in below)
Please leave additional comments below:
22. Develop standards to prohibit “slothomes".
Should this concept be included in the first draft of the new Zoning Ordinance?
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (write in below)
Please leave additional comments below:
Don’t introduce new standards that will limit housing construction.
Site Standards
23. Create incentives to encourage the use of existing or new alleys and shared driveways.
Should this concept be included in the first draft of the new Zoning Ordinance?
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (write in)
Please leave additional comments below:
24. Incorporate standard for narrower driveways, if supported by ATL DOT.
Should this concept be included in the first draft of the new Zoning Ordinance?
Yes
No
Maybe
Other (write in below)
Please leave additional comments below:
Conservation Area Preliminary Direction - Suburban
There are no specific concepts that only apply to Suburban Conservation Areas. However, many of the General concepts may apply here.
Primary Concept Question
Do you have any ideas for ZONING STANDARDS in Suburban Conservation Areas that you haven’t previously shared in-person or online?
Allow up to 4 units on all parcels by-right. Eliminate suburban conservation designation and designate all residential areas as urban.
Please leave additional comments below:
Conservation Area Preliminary Direction - Rural
There are no specific concepts that only apply to Rural Conservation Areas. However, many of the General concepts may apply here.
Primary Concept Question
Do you have any ideas for ZONING STANDARDS in Rural Conservation Areas that you haven’t previously shared in-person or online?
Allow up to 4 units on all parcels by-right. Eliminate rural conservation designation and designate all residential areas as urban.