Resolution 14-03 To Initiate a Proposal to Amend the Text of the Unified Development Ordinance,Chapter 20 of the Bloomington Municipal Code, in Accordance with Indiana Code Sections 36-7-4-602(b) & 36-7-4-607(b) (Proposal to Protect the Character of the Courthouse Square and University Village Overlay Districts by Treating the Location or Expansion of a“Standardized Restaurants” in those Districts as a Conditional Use)
Directs the City of Bloomington Plan Commission to prepare a proposal to amendthe City’s Unified Development Ordinance to create a process whereby businessesknown as ‘Standardized Restaurants’ are required to obtain Conditional Useapproval in order to locate and expand in two downtown overlay districts. Thesedistricts are the Courthouse Square Overlay (CSO) and the University VillageOverlay (UVO to ensure balance and diversity of restaurant activity in the mosthistoric, vibrant, and eclectic areas of the downtown—areas which the City reliesupon heavily for economic development purposes. The amendment directs theCommission to prepare the proposal by creating specific Conditional Use criteria toprovide the Board of Zoning Appeals guidance in determining if proposals forStandardized Restaurants negatively impact these two overlay districts, to wit: (1)Approval of the proposed use is strictly conditioned upon it contributing to anappropriate balance of local, regional, and national-based businesses within theregulated area; (2) The proposed use must utilize a unique visual appearance thatreflects or complements the historic character of the regulated area and not projecta visual appearance that is homogenous with its design elements in othercommunities; and (3) The proposed use will not result in an over-concentration ofstandardized restaurants within the regulated area.