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ZONING ORDINANCE TEXT AND MAP AMENDMENT OF THE NEW HAVEN BOARD OF ALDERS ESTABLISHING THE DOWNTOWN FOR ALL OVERLAY DISTRICT.
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WHEREAS, all residents of the City of New Haven should have access to a variety of safe, quality, affordable housing choices in all neighborhoods;
WHEREAS, the City of New Haven recognizes the need for a variety of strategies and zoning updates to address the complex issue of accessible and affordable housing;
WHEREAS: the establishment of the Downtown for All Overlay District will accomplish these goals by increasing the diversity of housing that can be built in Downtown New Haven, including through the creation of two overlay zones: the Downtown for All Inner Core and the Downtown for All Outer Core;
WHEREAS, the goals of the Downtown for All Overlay District include: expanding access to affordable housing, growing the city's tax base to support city services and a lower mill rate, creating good jobs through new construction and at local businesses; improving public safety by increasing foot traffic, and reducing local emissions by helping more residents live closer to jobs, school, shops, and public transit;
WHEREAS, New Haven's Zoning Code was last comprehensively revised in 1965 and does not reflect the needs of residents or market conditions that exist today;
WHEREAS, amending the New Haven Zoning ordinance to reduce barriers to housing development is a vital step in encouraging dense, affordable, and diverse development that increases housing access and vibrancy in the Downtown;
WHEREAS, changes in the Inner Core will allow buildings with a larger maximum Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 12.0 (subject to applicable density bonuses under the Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance), a lower minimum Gross Floor Area per unit ratio (GFA) of 400 sq. ft., a lower amenity space requirement, and more flexibility for rooming and boarding houses;
WHEREAS, the same changes will apply in the Outer Core except that the maximum FAR will be 6.0 (s...
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