Ordinance 17-45

This ordinance amends Title 20 (the Unified Development Ordinance or “UDO”) of the Bloomington Municipal Code. The proposed amendments decrease the densities and heights of, and set forth additional guidelines for, new construction in the downtown overlay districts. The policies of the 2002 Growth Policies Plan, the 2005 Downtown Vision and Infill Strategy Plan and the subsequent UDO were successful in spurring downtown development, and approximately 1,000 new downtown housing units have been built since 2007, with more under construction or recently approved. However, current community sentiment, as it will be embodied in the revised Comprehensive Plan presently under review, is that the existing UDO standards are not sufficient to preserve the integrity, uniqueness, and diversity of the overlay neighborhoods. The intent of these proposed amendments is to ensure that new development in the Overlay Districts is appropriately sized, scaled, and compatible with existing buildings so as to preserve and enhance the distinct character of the Overlay Districts until a broader revision of the UDO can be undertaken after adoption of the new Comprehensive Plan. The ordinance amends Section 20.03.030 - Courthouse Square overlay (CSO) — Review standards, Sections 20.03.050 - Courthouse square overlay (CSO)—Development Standards, 20.03.060 - Courthouse square overlay (CSO)—Architectural standards, 20.03.100 – Downtown core overlay (DCO)—Review standards, 20.03.120 - Downtown core overlay (DCO)— Development standards, 20.03.130 - Downtown core overlay (DCO)—Architectural standards, 20.03.170 - University village overlay (UVO)—Review standards, 20.03.190 - University village overlay (UVO)—Development standards, 20.03.200 - University village overlay (UVO)—Architectural standards, 20.03.240 - Downtown edges overlay (DEO)—Review standards, 20.03.260 - Downtown edges overlay (DEO)—Development standards, 20.03.270 – Downtown edges overlay (DEO)—Architectural standards, 20.03.310 - Downtown gateway overlay (DGO) — Review Standards, 20.03.330 - Downtown gateway overlay (DGO)—Development standards, 20.03.340 - Downtown gateway overlay (DGO)—Architectural standards, 20.03.380 – Showers Technology Park overlay (STPO)—Review standards, 20.03.400 - Showers technology park overlay (STPO)—Development standards, and 20.03.410 - Showers technology park overlay (STPO)—Architectural standards.